Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Thrissur and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Thrissur: $375 a month against $938 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $6,800 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Thrissur
🇮🇳 India
$375
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$938
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Thrissur 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 Thrissur and in Chiang Mai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $375 per month in Thrissur vs $938 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Thrissur $375
  • Chiang Mai $938

A couple spends around $574 per month in Thrissur vs $1,426 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Thrissur $574
  • Chiang Mai $1,426

A family of three spends $773 per month in Thrissur vs $1,914 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Thrissur $773
  • Chiang Mai $1,914

Thrissur is about 60% cheaper than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Thrissur and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Thrissur 72% lower, Chiang Mai 30% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Thrissur
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.27 ₹121
$2.26 ฿75.4
-43.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$8.23 ₹782
$19.18 ฿641
-57.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.83 ₹364
$5.59 ฿187
-31.48%
Cappuccino
$1.28 ₹122
$1.72 ฿57.6
-25.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44 ₹41.74
$0.64 ฿21.54
-31.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.19 ₹18.03
$0.33 ฿11.18
-42.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.12 ₹201
$2.36 ฿78.7
-10.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31 ₹314
$3.90 ฿130
-15.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Thrissur
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.64 ₹61.0
$2.05 ฿68.6
-68.78%
White Bread (500g)
$0.57 ₹54.4
$1.40 ฿46.70
-59.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.51 ₹48.82
$1.28 ฿42.89
-60.16%
Eggs
$0.88 ₹83.3
$2.25 ฿75.3
-60.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.98 ₹473
$16.94 ฿566
-70.60%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.72 ₹258
$2.74 ฿91.6
-0.73%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$9.36 ฿313
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.22 ₹211
$2.40 ฿80.3
-7.50%
Banana (1kg)
$0.73 ₹69.8
$1.01 ฿33.92
-27.72%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.37 ₹130
$1.61 ฿53.9
-14.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.42 ₹39.90
$1.52 ฿50.7
-72.37%
Potato (1kg)
$0.46 ₹43.28
$1.28 ฿42.90
-64.06%
Onion (1kg)
$0.46 ₹43.23
$1.11 ฿37.22
-58.56%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.83 ₹78.5
$0.72 ฿24.09
15.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.31 ₹29.67
$0.52 ฿17.54
-40.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.99 ₹474
$4.33 ฿145
15.24%
Wine (Bottle)
$3.15 ₹299
$17.73 ฿593
-82.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.99 ₹189
$1.63 ฿54.4
22.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61 ₹343
$2.85 ฿95.3
26.67%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
$3.94 ₹374
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Thrissur
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.22 ₹20.94
$0.85 ฿28.31
-74.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$6.76 ₹642
$53.9 ฿1,801
-87.46%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.59 ₹151
$1.17 ฿39.18
35.90%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.54 ₹51.4
$0.57 ฿19.00
-5.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.08 ₹102
$2.37 ฿79.2
-54.43%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.13 ₹107
$1.45 ฿48.32
-22.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$15.5K ₹1.5M
$20.5K ฿684.3K
-24.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.4K ₹1.8M
$26.5K ฿886.1K
-30.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Thrissur
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$53.2 ₹5,050
$62.3 ฿2,083
-14.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$2.84 ₹269
$12.27 ฿410
-76.85%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.01 ₹666
$19.97 ฿668
-64.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Thrissur
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$11.20 ₹1,063
$37.91 ฿1,267
-70.46%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.67 ₹1,013
$3.76 ฿126
183.78%
Cinema Ticket
$2.60 ₹247
$6.71 ฿224
-61.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Thrissur
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$60.2 ₹5,716
$797 ฿26.6K
-92.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,181 ₹112.1K
$14.8K ฿495.7K
-92.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Thrissur
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.33 ₹1,835
$53.3 ฿1,780
-63.70%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$14.93 ₹1,417
$25.05 ฿837
-40.40%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$29.76 ₹2,826
$91.6 ฿3,062
-67.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$26.92 ₹2,556
$73.5 ฿2,455
-63.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Thrissur
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$121 ₹11.5K
$464 ฿15.5K
-73.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$84.0 ₹7,979
$305 ฿10.2K
-72.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$306 ₹29.1K
$915 ฿30.6K
-66.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$176 ₹16.7K
$552 ฿18.5K
-68.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,304 ₹313.7K
$1,912 ฿63.9K
72.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,717 ₹163.1K
$1,438 ฿48.1K
19.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Thrissur
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$307 ₹29.1K
$595 ฿19.9K
-48.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.83
5.57
112.39%

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

Last update for Thrissur: October 11, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Thrissur
$102
Chiang Mai
$238 133% $136
Accommodation & Living
Thrissur
$84
Chiang Mai
$305 263% $221
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Thrissur
$63
Chiang Mai
$95 50.1% $32
Eating Out
Thrissur
$57
Chiang Mai
$79 39.1% $22
Clothing & Footwear
Thrissur
$41
Chiang Mai
$110 168% $69
Sport & Entertainment
Thrissur
$16
Chiang Mai
$51 213% $35
Getting Around
Thrissur
$12
Chiang Mai
$61 414% $49

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $121 in Thrissur versus $464 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 94% 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 $8.00 in Thrissur versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $102 vs $238 – making Thrissur the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇮🇳 Thrissur
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
17:20 5:20 PM
18:50 6:50 PM
1 h 30 min ahead of Thrissur
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
315,957
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 18, 2026: 1 USD = 94.96 INR (100 INR = 1.05 USD). 1 EUR = 107 INR (1,000 INR = 9.37 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Thrissur Chiang Mai 2,610 km ≈ 3 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Thrissur
  • 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
Thrissur vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Thrissur or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 150% more than Thrissur, 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 Thrissur and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $563 per month in Thrissur and $1,408 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Thrissur or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Thrissur, 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 Thrissur and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $60.2 per month in Thrissur and $797 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 Thrissur or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 133% 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 Thrissur or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Thrissur, where all-in costs run around $375, than in Chiang Mai at $938. In Thrissur 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, Thrissur or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Thrissur costs $375 versus $938 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Thrissur 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 Thrissur or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Thrissur. 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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