Cost of Living Comparison Between Kalyan and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Kalyan and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $481 per month in Kalyan vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $773 per month in Kalyan vs $1,360 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,065 per month in Kalyan vs $1,867 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Kalyan is about 44% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Kalyan and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Kalyan 64% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kalyan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.59 ₹343
$2.04 ฿68.4
75.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.47 ₹1,097
$18.71 ฿626
-38.70%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.02 ₹385
$7.86 ฿263
-48.85%
Cappuccino
$2.00 ₹191
$2.03 ฿67.9
-1.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42 ₹40.24
$0.80 ฿26.71
-47.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.16 ₹14.84
$0.35 ฿11.71
-54.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.42 ₹231
$2.14 ฿71.7
13.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40 ₹325
$3.67 ฿123
-7.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kalyan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.73 ₹69.9
$1.73 ฿57.8
-57.80%
White Bread (500g)
$0.52 ₹50.1
$1.57 ฿52.5
-66.88%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.74 ₹71.0
$1.20 ฿40.10
-38.33%
Eggs
$0.99 ₹95.1
$1.97 ฿66.0
-49.75%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.83 ₹557
$16.23 ฿543
-64.08%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.62 ₹346
$3.06 ฿102
18.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$10.80 ฿361
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.23 ₹213
$2.77 ฿92.6
-19.49%
Banana (1kg)
$0.63 ₹60.4
$1.17 ฿39.05
-46.15%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.01 ₹96.3
$1.71 ฿57.1
-40.94%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.55 ₹53.1
$1.59 ฿53.3
-65.41%
Potato (1kg)
$0.35 ₹33.67
$1.39 ฿46.63
-74.82%
Onion (1kg)
$0.41 ₹38.88
$1.16 ฿38.67
-64.66%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.53 ₹50.8
$0.66 ฿22.11
-19.70%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.32 ₹30.24
$0.52 ฿17.35
-38.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.91 ₹374
$4.65 ฿155
-15.91%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.68 ₹734
$17.78 ฿595
-56.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.42 ₹231
$1.79 ฿59.8
35.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.13 ₹395
$3.34 ฿112
23.65%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
$8.48 ₹811
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Kalyan
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.18 ₹17.41
$0.91 ฿30.35
-80.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.29 ₹792
$18.64 ฿624
-55.53%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.34 ₹32.56
$1.41 ฿47.17
-75.89%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.19 ₹18.58
$1.34 ฿44.82
-85.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.71 ₹163
$8.11 ฿271
-78.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.18 ₹113
$1.23 ฿41.27
-4.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$11.7K ₹1.1M
$21.4K ฿717.0K
-45.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.4K ₹2.0M
$21.8K ฿730.0K
-2.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kalyan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$42.50 ₹4,064
$71.3 ฿2,386
-40.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.63 ₹443
$14.01 ฿469
-66.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.18 ₹687
$17.93 ฿600
-59.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kalyan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$13.35 ₹1,277
$40.82 ฿1,365
-67.30%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.16 ₹1,163
$6.88 ฿230
76.74%
Cinema Ticket
$4.13 ₹395
$5.72 ฿191
-27.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kalyan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$85.9 ₹8,214
$308 ฿10.3K
-72.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,302 ₹124.5K
$14.7K ฿491.0K
-91.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kalyan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.09 ₹2,304
$55.8 ฿1,865
-56.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.45 ₹2,339
$26.04 ฿871
-6.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$41.99 ₹4,016
$84.8 ฿2,837
-50.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$41.53 ₹3,972
$71.0 ฿2,375
-41.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kalyan
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$206 ₹19.7K
$423 ฿14.2K
-51.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$129 ₹12.4K
$242 ฿8,110
-46.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$479 ₹45.9K
$797 ฿26.7K
-39.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$310 ₹29.7K
$507 ฿17.0K
-38.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,680 ₹160.7K
$1,918 ฿64.2K
-12.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$919 ₹87.9K
$1,464 ฿49.0K
-37.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kalyan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$590 ₹56.4K
$595 ฿19.9K
-0.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.02
5
80.40%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Kalyan: July 25, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $206 in Kalyan versus $423 in Chiang Mai. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 1% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $11.00 in Kalyan versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $120 vs $244 – making Kalyan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Kalyan vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kalyan or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 77% more than Kalyan, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Kalyan and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $721 per month in Kalyan and $1,279 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Kalyan or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kalyan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Kalyan and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $85.9 per month in Kalyan and $308 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Kalyan or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 103% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $800/month in Kalyan or in Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $481 in Kalyan and $852 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Kalyan or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kalyan costs $481 versus $852 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Kalyan compared to Chiang Mai?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Kalyan or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Kalyan. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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