🙂A single person spends $355 per month in Tenali vs $942 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $541 per month in Tenali vs $1,427 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $728 per month in Tenali vs $1,912 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Tenali is about 62% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Tenali and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Tenali74% lower, Chiang Mai30% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tenali
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.04₹195
$2.08฿69.6
-1.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.29₹985
$19.91฿665
-48.32%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.21₹498
$5.58฿186
-6.63%
Cappuccino
$2.17₹207
$1.74฿58.1
24.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49₹46.65
$0.72฿24.05
-31.94%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.11₹10.70
$0.32฿10.69
-65.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.13₹203
$2.25฿75.2
-5.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.21₹404
$3.81฿127
10.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tenali
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.68₹64.9
$2.02฿67.5
-66.34%
White Bread(500g)
$0.40₹38.62
$1.57฿52.5
-74.52%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.61₹58.1
$1.40฿46.66
-56.43%
Eggs
$0.78₹74.6
$2.15฿72.0
-63.72%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.24₹502
$15.63฿523
-66.47%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.21₹212
$2.95฿98.5
-25.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$9.49฿317
-
Apples(1kg)
$1.71₹164
$2.60฿87.1
-34.23%
Banana(1kg)
$0.68₹65.5
$1.08฿36.15
-37.04%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.75₹71.7
$1.59฿53.2
-52.83%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.46₹44.28
$1.45฿48.56
-68.28%
Potato(1kg)
$0.39₹37.31
$1.28฿42.67
-69.53%
Onion(1kg)
$0.36₹34.39
$1.11฿37.14
-67.57%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.48₹45.95
$0.73฿24.27
-34.25%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.27₹26.02
$0.50฿16.70
-46.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.13₹203
$4.27฿143
-50.12%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.81₹843
$17.67฿591
-50.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84₹176
$1.68฿56.2
9.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59₹248
$2.80฿93.6
-7.50%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
$5.27₹504
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Tenali
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38₹36.55
$0.87฿28.92
-56.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$6.96₹666
$54.2฿1,812
-87.16%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.65₹61.9
$1.21฿40.54
-46.28%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.39₹36.89
$0.54฿18.01
-27.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.16₹111
$2.39฿79.8
-51.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.07₹102
$1.46฿48.93
-26.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$15.0K₹1.4M
$21.0K฿702.5K
-28.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K₹2.2M
$26.7K฿892.4K
-15.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tenali
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$39.03₹3,737
$62.1฿2,075
-37.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$2.75₹263
$12.93฿432
-78.73%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$6.10₹584
$20.61฿689
-70.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tenali
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$7.33₹702
$39.21฿1,311
-81.31%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.52₹1,007
$3.77฿126
179.05%
Cinema Ticket
$2.05₹196
$6.52฿218
-68.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tenali
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$15.49₹1,483
$803฿26.8K
-98.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,867₹274.4K
$14.7K฿491.3K
-80.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tenali
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$12.94₹1,238
$55.9฿1,867
-76.83%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.30₹1,752
$25.51฿853
-28.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$29.11₹2,786
$91.1฿3,045
-68.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$18.06₹1,729
$73.3฿2,450
-75.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tenali
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$76.8₹7,355
$484฿16.2K
-84.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$62.1₹5,941
$288฿9,634
-78.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$170₹16.3K
$885฿29.6K
-80.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$120₹11.5K
$523฿17.5K
-77.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$963₹92.2K
$1,989฿66.5K
-51.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$507₹48.5K
$1,440฿48.2K
-64.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tenali
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$369₹35.3K
$603฿20.2K
-38.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8
5.57
43.63%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tenali: September 19, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $76.8 in Tenali versus $484 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 63% 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 Tenali versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $100 vs $238 – making Tenali 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
Tenali vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tenali or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 166% more than Tenali, 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 Tenali and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $532 per month in Tenali and $1,414 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Tenali or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Tenali, 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 Tenali and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $15.49 per month in Tenali and $803 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 Tenali or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 137% 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 Tenali or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Tenali, where all-in costs run around $355, than in Chiang Mai at $942. In Tenali 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, Tenali or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Tenali costs $355 versus $942 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Tenali 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 Tenali or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Tenali. 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.