Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Pune and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Pune: $567 a month against $936 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $4,400 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Pune, India
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Pune
🇮🇳 India
$567
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$936
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Pune and in Chiang Mai

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Pune and in Chiang Mai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $567 per month in Pune vs $936 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Pune $567
  • Chiang Mai $936

A couple spends around $919 per month in Pune vs $1,457 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Pune $919
  • Chiang Mai $1,457

A family of three spends $1,271 per month in Pune vs $1,979 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Pune $1,271
  • Chiang Mai $1,979

Pune is about 39% cheaper than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Pune and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Pune 58% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pune
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.11 ₹391
$2.24 ฿75.7
83.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.49 ₹1,666
$19.00 ฿642
-7.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.11 ₹486
$5.55 ฿188
-7.93%
Cappuccino
$2.13 ₹203
$1.67 ฿56.6
27.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ₹46.34
$0.64 ฿21.56
-23.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.20 ₹18.80
$0.31 ฿10.32
-35.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.90 ₹276
$2.36 ฿79.6
22.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.26 ₹406
$3.66 ฿124
16.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pune
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.77 ₹73.1
$1.95 ฿65.8
-60.51%
White Bread (500g)
$0.56 ₹53.6
$1.44 ฿48.51
-61.11%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.76 ₹72.8
$1.33 ฿45.07
-42.86%
Eggs
$1.05 ₹100
$2.28 ฿77.1
-53.95%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.06 ₹577
$16.45 ฿556
-63.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.32 ₹316
$2.78 ฿94.0
19.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$9.31 ฿314
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.85 ₹271
$2.35 ฿79.5
21.28%
Banana (1kg)
$0.69 ₹65.8
$0.97 ฿32.82
-28.87%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.80 ₹171
$1.60 ฿53.9
12.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.46 ₹43.55
$1.50 ฿50.7
-69.33%
Potato (1kg)
$0.41 ₹39.34
$1.28 ฿43.15
-67.97%
Onion (1kg)
$0.47 ₹44.66
$1.10 ฿37.22
-57.27%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.59 ₹55.9
$0.71 ฿23.84
-16.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.31 ₹29.23
$0.49 ฿16.38
-36.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.97 ₹473
$4.14 ฿140
20.05%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.47 ₹616
$17.52 ฿592
-63.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.18 ₹207
$1.61 ฿54.5
35.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94 ₹280
$2.78 ฿94.0
5.76%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
$5.56 ₹530
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Pune
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.44 ₹41.93
$0.87 ฿29.33
-49.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.79 ₹1,504
$54.1 ฿1,827
-70.81%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.44 ₹41.96
$1.16 ฿39.08
-62.07%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.25 ₹23.66
$0.53 ฿17.82
-52.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.15 ₹205
$2.42 ฿81.8
-11.16%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 ₹109
$1.45 ฿48.93
-21.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$12.4K ₹1.2M
$21.1K ฿711.2K
-41.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3K ₹1.9M
$26.9K ฿909.8K
-24.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pune
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.34 ₹3,841
$62.2 ฿2,100
-35.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.78 ₹360
$12.17 ฿411
-68.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.98 ₹760
$20.12 ฿680
-60.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pune
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$20.10 ₹1,914
$37.31 ฿1,260
-46.13%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.94 ₹661
$3.77 ฿127
84.08%
Cinema Ticket
$5.15 ₹490
$6.49 ฿219
-20.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pune
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$126 ₹12.0K
$736 ฿24.9K
-82.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,376 ₹226.2K
$14.8K ฿498.6K
-83.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pune
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$29.00 ₹2,761
$53.4 ฿1,802
-45.66%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.95 ₹2,566
$24.64 ฿832
9.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$49.95 ₹4,756
$91.5 ฿3,089
-45.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$37.44 ₹3,565
$71.9 ฿2,429
-47.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pune
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$246 ₹23.4K
$482 ฿16.3K
-49.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$180 ₹17.2K
$309 ฿10.4K
-41.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$654 ₹62.2K
$1,006 ฿34.0K
-35.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$417 ₹39.7K
$633 ฿21.4K
-34.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,147 ₹204.4K
$2,363 ฿79.8K
-9.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,051 ₹100.0K
$1,589 ฿53.7K
-33.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pune
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,210 ₹115.2K
$590 ฿19.9K
105.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.73
5.57
56.73%

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

Last update for Pune: October 24, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Pune
$180
Chiang Mai
$309 71.4% $129
Groceries & Markets
Pune
$121
Chiang Mai
$234 93.5% $113
Eating Out
Pune
$100
Chiang Mai
$78 22.1% $22
Clothing & Footwear
Pune
$65
Chiang Mai
$109 68.4% $44
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pune
$52
Chiang Mai
$94 81.3% $42
Sport & Entertainment
Pune
$30
Chiang Mai
$50 65.4% $20
Getting Around
Pune
$19
Chiang Mai
$61 219% $42

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $246 in Pune versus $482 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 in Pune are about 2.1 times higher, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $17 in Pune versus $19 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $121 vs $234 – making Pune the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇮🇳 Pune
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
00:12 12:12 AM
01:42 1:42 AM
1 h 30 min ahead of Pune
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
3,115,431
127,240
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to INR – Indian Rupee Converter

Indian Rupee exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 95.22 INR (100 INR = 1.05 USD). 1 EUR = 106 INR (1,000 INR = 9.43 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 33.77 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.59 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Pune Chiang Mai 2,650 km ≈ 3 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Pune
  • Chiang Mai

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Pune vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Pune or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 65% more than Pune, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. 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 Pune and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $851 per month in Pune and $1,403 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Pune or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Pune, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $246 there versus $482 in Chiang Mai.
How do childcare costs compare in Pune and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $126 per month in Pune and $736 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 Pune or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 93% 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 $1,200/month in Pune or in Chiang Mai?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $567 in Pune and $936 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Pune or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Pune costs $567 versus $936 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
For expats, Pune is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and the 65% gap matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

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