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

🙂 Solo nomad: Shimla is 49.4% cheaper than Chiang Mai without rent, and 61.7% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Shimla is 52% cheaper than Chiang Mai without rent, and 60.2% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shimla
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.77 ₹152
$2.02 ฿65.3
-12.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$5.66 ₹484
$18.78 ฿608
-69.86%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.47 ₹296
$7.67 ฿248
-54.76%
Cappuccino
$1.02 ₹86.8
$1.98 ฿64.2
-48.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ₹29.54
$0.82 ฿26.64
-57.32%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.19 ₹16.55
$0.33 ฿10.58
-42.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.65 ₹142
$2.12 ฿68.6
-22.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 ₹203
$3.73 ฿121
-36.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shimla
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.74 ₹63.4
$1.64 ฿53.2
-54.88%
White Bread (500g)
$0.45 ₹38.13
$1.57 ฿50.9
-71.34%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.63 ₹54
$1.19 ฿38.62
-47.06%
Eggs
$0.86 ₹73.5
$1.98 ฿64.1
-56.57%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.44 ₹379
$15.99 ฿517
-72.23%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.56 ₹305
$3.12 ฿101
14.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$11.16 ฿361
-
Apples (1kg)
$1.91 ₹164
$2.76 ฿89.2
-30.80%
Banana (1kg)
$0.69 ₹59.2
$1.22 ฿39.5
-43.44%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.79 ₹67.9
$1.71 ฿55.4
-53.80%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.55 ₹46.7
$1.55 ฿50.2
-64.52%
Potato (1kg)
$0.37 ₹32
$1.34 ฿43.21
-72.39%
Onion (1kg)
$0.44 ₹37.24
$1.21 ฿39.23
-63.64%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.22 ₹18.73
$0.72 ฿23.2
-69.44%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.33 ₹28.64
$0.53 ฿17.05
-37.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.53 ₹387
$4.72 ฿153
-4.03%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.52 ₹472
$18.39 ฿595
-69.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 ₹146
$1.79 ฿57.9
-4.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34 ₹200
$3.21 ฿104
-27.10%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
$5.88 ₹503
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Shimla
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.22 ₹18.7
$0.94 ฿30.44
-76.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.82 ₹754
$18.9 ฿612
-53.33%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.82 ₹70.4
$1.42 ฿46.08
-42.25%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.35 ฿43.53
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.15 ₹98.3
$7.85 ฿254
-85.35%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.15 ₹98.4
$1.25 ฿40.4
-8.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$14.9K ₹1.3M
$21.2K ฿684.9K
-29.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.9K ₹1.7M
$21.8K ฿706.8K
-9.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shimla
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$19.6 ₹1,676
$70.6 ฿2,285
-72.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.39 ₹290
$13.72 ฿444
-75.29%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.77 ₹664
$17.56 ฿568
-55.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shimla
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$14.68 ₹1,256
$41.64 ฿1,347
-64.75%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.07 ₹605
$6.9 ฿223
2.46%
Cinema Ticket
$3.44 ₹295
$5.8 ฿188
-40.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shimla
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$45.91 ₹3,926
$308 ฿9,963
-85.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,349 ₹200.9K
$14.7K ฿475.8K
-84.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shimla
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$33.35 ₹2,852
$55.4 ฿1,793
-39.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.48 ₹2,436
$26.4 ฿854
7.88%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$47.35 ₹4,050
$85.1 ฿2,755
-44.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$29.23 ₹2,500
$71.8 ฿2,323
-59.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shimla
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$93.5 ₹7,996
$434 ฿14K
-78.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$57.6 ₹4,928
$235 ฿7,610
-75.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$224 ₹19.2K
$821 ฿26.6K
-72.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$142 ₹12.2K
$498 ฿16.1K
-71.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,048 ₹89.6K
$2,180 ฿70.6K
-51.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$607 ₹51.9K
$1,543 ฿49.9K
-60.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shimla
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$589 ₹50.4K
$703 ฿22.8K
-16.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.25
5
65.00%

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

Last update for Shimla: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

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