🙂A single person spends $342 per month in Kannur vs $947 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $547 per month in Kannur vs $1,411 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $752 per month in Kannur vs $1,874 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Kannur is about 64% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Kannur and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Kannur75% lower, Chiang Mai31% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kannur
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.02₹96.6
$2.08฿69.4
-50.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.44₹991
$19.64฿654
-46.84%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.67₹444
$5.65฿188
-17.35%
Cappuccino
$1.17₹112
$1.81฿60.1
-35.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42₹40.21
$0.71฿23.75
-40.85%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.13₹12.70
$0.32฿10.52
-59.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.61₹153
$2.24฿74.5
-28.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17₹206
$3.63฿121
-40.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kannur
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.59₹55.8
$1.96฿65.2
-69.90%
White Bread(500g)
$0.42₹39.86
$1.50฿50.0
-72.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.55₹52.1
$1.34฿44.49
-58.96%
Eggs
$0.72₹68.0
$2.26฿75.4
-68.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.41₹609
$16.26฿541
-60.58%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.80₹266
$2.95฿98.4
-5.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$9.94฿331
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.33₹221
$2.57฿85.7
-9.34%
Banana(1kg)
$0.65₹61.9
$1.06฿35.18
-38.68%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.76₹71.8
$1.61฿53.7
-52.80%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.43₹40.64
$1.52฿50.6
-71.71%
Potato(1kg)
$0.34₹32.16
$1.27฿42.30
-73.23%
Onion(1kg)
$0.35₹33.63
$1.07฿35.51
-67.29%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.37₹35.56
$0.72฿23.98
-48.61%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.30₹28.81
$0.51฿16.94
-41.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.18₹397
$4.19฿140
-0.24%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.20₹779
$17.87฿595
-54.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.81₹172
$1.69฿56.4
7.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01₹191
$2.84฿94.5
-29.23%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
$3.15₹299
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Kannur
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.20₹18.95
$0.93฿30.82
-78.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$5.36₹509
$53.9฿1,794
-90.05%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.07₹102
$1.23฿41.11
-13.01%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.29₹27.32
$0.58฿19.20
-50.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.49₹142
$2.42฿80.7
-38.43%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.08₹103
$1.41฿47.03
-23.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$9,002₹854.7K
$21.4K฿714.1K
-58.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$13.7K₹1.3M
$27.3K฿910.2K
-50.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kannur
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$30.43₹2,889
$63.7฿2,120
-52.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$2.68₹254
$12.85฿428
-79.14%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$6.23₹591
$20.22฿673
-69.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kannur
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$10.24₹972
$38.74฿1,290
-73.57%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.32₹885
$3.97฿132
134.76%
Cinema Ticket
$2.33₹221
$6.74฿224
-65.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kannur
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$51.3₹4,866
$778฿25.9K
-93.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,387₹131.7K
$14.6K฿486.5K
-90.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kannur
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$21.41₹2,033
$54.3฿1,808
-60.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.06₹1,905
$25.45฿847
-21.18%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$34.46₹3,272
$94.3฿3,141
-63.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$31.77₹3,017
$73.4฿2,446
-56.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kannur
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$129₹12.3K
$490฿16.3K
-73.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$79.9₹7,588
$289฿9,634
-72.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$185₹17.5K
$894฿29.8K
-79.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$173₹16.4K
$517฿17.2K
-66.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$737₹70.0K
$1,955฿65.1K
-62.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,795₹170.4K
$1,477฿49.2K
21.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kannur
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$262₹24.9K
$602฿20.0K
-56.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.52
5.57
52.96%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kannur: August 31, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $129 in Kannur versus $490 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 129% 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 $10.00 in Kannur versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $105 vs $240 – making Kannur 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
Kannur vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kannur or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 177% more than Kannur, 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 Kannur and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $513 per month in Kannur and $1,421 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Kannur or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kannur, 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 Kannur and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $51.3 per month in Kannur and $778 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 Kannur or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 128% 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 $1,000/month in Kannur or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kannur, where all-in costs run around $342, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Kannur it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Kannur or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kannur costs $342 versus $947 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Kannur 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 Kannur or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Kannur. 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.