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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $347 per month in Siliguri vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $568 per month in Siliguri vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $790 per month in Siliguri vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Siliguri is about 59% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Siliguri and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Siliguri 74% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Currency
ðŸ― Eating Out
Siliguri
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.86 â‚đ270
$1.96 āļŋ63.6
45.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.03 â‚đ1,327
$18.81 āļŋ611
-25.41%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.50 â‚đ615
$7.92 āļŋ258
-17.93%
Cappuccino
$1.51 â‚đ143
$1.91 āļŋ62.2
-20.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 â‚đ35.44
$0.84 āļŋ27.25
-55.95%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.20 â‚đ19.18
$0.35 āļŋ11.44
-42.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.47 â‚đ139
$2.21 āļŋ71.7
-33.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 â‚đ224
$3.80 āļŋ124
-37.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Siliguri
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.57 â‚đ53.6
$1.64 āļŋ53.2
-65.24%
White Bread (500g)
$0.29 â‚đ27.42
$1.62 āļŋ52.8
-82.10%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.54 â‚đ51.1
$1.18 āļŋ38.40
-54.24%
Eggs
$0.84 â‚đ79.6
$2.01 āļŋ65.4
-58.21%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.27 â‚đ499
$15.89 āļŋ517
-66.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.18 â‚đ206
$3.01 āļŋ98.0
-27.57%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$10.77 āļŋ350
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.04 â‚đ193
$2.61 āļŋ85.0
-21.84%
Banana (1kg)
$0.82 â‚đ77.3
$1.22 āļŋ39.65
-32.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.07 â‚đ101
$1.70 āļŋ55.4
-37.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.47 â‚đ44.41
$1.58 āļŋ51.2
-70.25%
Potato (1kg)
$0.25 â‚đ23.75
$1.32 āļŋ42.89
-81.06%
Onion (1kg)
$0.42 â‚đ39.42
$1.17 āļŋ38.01
-64.10%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.37 â‚đ35.22
$0.67 āļŋ21.85
-44.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.35 â‚đ33.26
$0.56 āļŋ18.21
-37.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.41 â‚đ323
$4.53 āļŋ147
-24.72%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.34 â‚đ410
$18.20 āļŋ592
-76.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44 â‚đ136
$1.83 āļŋ59.6
-21.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61 â‚đ342
$3.23 āļŋ105
11.76%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
$7.34 â‚đ694
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Siliguri
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.22 â‚đ20.73
$0.89 āļŋ28.83
-75.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.84 â‚đ836
$19.38 āļŋ630
-54.39%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.43 â‚đ136
$1.35 āļŋ43.95
5.93%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.35 āļŋ43.79
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 â‚đ129
$8.25 āļŋ268
-83.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 â‚đ116
$1.27 āļŋ41.40
-3.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$12.2K â‚đ1.1M
$21.2K āļŋ687.8K
-42.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.9K â‚đ2.2M
$22.5K āļŋ731.0K
1.69%
ðŸ§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Siliguri
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$37.32 â‚đ3,531
$70.2 āļŋ2,281
-46.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.15 â‚đ298
$13.77 āļŋ448
-77.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.88 â‚đ745
$17.60 āļŋ572
-55.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Siliguri
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$6.77 â‚đ640
$41.57 āļŋ1,352
-83.71%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.03 â‚đ476
$6.60 āļŋ215
-23.79%
Cinema Ticket
$2.34 â‚đ221
$5.78 āļŋ188
-59.52%
ðŸ§ļ Childcare & Education
Siliguri
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$40.56 â‚đ3,837
$306 āļŋ9,953
-86.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,004 â‚đ189.6K
$14.8K āļŋ482.0K
-86.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Siliguri
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.85 â‚đ2,635
$54.4 āļŋ1,768
-48.78%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$11.44 â‚đ1,082
$26.14 āļŋ850
-56.24%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$42.29 â‚đ4,002
$84.5 āļŋ2,748
-49.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$36.72 â‚đ3,475
$69.4 āļŋ2,257
-47.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Siliguri
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$166 â‚đ15.7K
$424 āļŋ13.8K
-60.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$53.0 â‚đ5,011
$238 āļŋ7,743
-77.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$383 â‚đ36.3K
$825 āļŋ26.8K
-53.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$144 â‚đ13.7K
$515 āļŋ16.7K
-71.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$771 â‚đ72.9K
$2,049 āļŋ66.6K
-62.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$427 â‚đ40.4K
$1,523 āļŋ49.5K
-71.97%
ðŸ’ĩ Salaries & Financials
Siliguri
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$374 â‚đ35.4K
$635 āļŋ20.6K
-41.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.7
5
94.00%

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

Last update for Siliguri: April 26, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $166 in Siliguri versus $424 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 70% 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 $14.00 in Siliguri versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $93.0 vs $243 – making Siliguri 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
Siliguri vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Siliguri or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 146% more than Siliguri, 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 Siliguri vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $520 per month in Siliguri and $1,278 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Siliguri or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Siliguri, 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 Siliguri and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $40.56 per month in Siliguri and $306 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 Siliguri or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 162% 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 Siliguri or Chiang Mai?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $347 in Siliguri and $852 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Siliguri or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Siliguri costs $347 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 Siliguri 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 Siliguri or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Siliguri. 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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