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Chennai vs Chiang Mai

Chennai runs about 36% cheaper than Chiang Mai for this household, a difference of 253 USD a month.

Bird's-eye view of Chennai city from Chennai Lighthouse near Marina Beach
Chennai
$695/month · India
SlowPhoton · CC BY-SA 4.0
View of Chiang Mai City, taken from the top of Doi Suthep Mountain. Image extracted (crop) from Supanut Arunoprayote's original panoramic file. Extracted and edited (crop) under the Creative Commons A
Chiang Mai
$948/month · Thailand
Supanut Arunoprayote · CC BY 4.0
Chennai monthly
$695
Index 11 (NYC = 100)
Chiang Mai monthly
$948
Index 15 (NYC = 100)
Difference
+36%
Chiang Mai relative to Chennai
Rent gap
$80
Chiang Mai costs more for a central 1-bed
By category

Where the gap actually is

ChennaiChiang Mai
  • Housing
    Housing: Chennai $300, Chiang Mai $380. Cheaper in Chennai.
  • Food
    Food: Chennai $226, Chiang Mai $300. Cheaper in Chennai.
  • Transport
    Transport: Chennai $19, Chiang Mai $35. Cheaper in Chennai.
  • Utilities
    Utilities: Chennai $57, Chiang Mai $91. Cheaper in Chennai.
  • Healthcare
    Healthcare: Chennai $6.31, Chiang Mai $14. Cheaper in Chennai.
  • Lifestyle
    Lifestyle: Chennai $58, Chiang Mai $87. Cheaper in Chennai.
  • Other
    Other: Chennai $29, Chiang Mai $42. Cheaper in Chennai.
Each row is one category priced in both cities for the same household. The bar is the gap; exact figures are in the table below.
Interactive — adjust the household

Full comparison

MetricChennaiChiang Mai
Cost
Total monthly cost695 USD✓948 USD
Cost index (New York = 100)11✓15
Housing300 USD✓380 USD
Utilities57 USD✓91 USD
Food226 USD✓300 USD
Transport19 USD✓35 USD
Healthcare6 USD✓14 USD
Lifestyle58 USD✓87 USD
Income & tax
Take-home on 100,000 USD/yr6,137 USD6,510 USD✓
Effective tax + social rate26.4%21.9%✓
Left over each month5,442 USD5,562 USD✓
Average local net salary470 USD600 USD✓
Housing
1-bed rent, city centre300 USD✓380 USD
3-bed rent, city centre750 USD✓850 USD
Buy price per m², centre2,100 USD2,000 USD✓
Quality of life
Safety66/10076/100✓
Healthcare64/10064/100
Air quality28/10028/100
Public transport52/100✓20/100
Walkability46/10052/100✓
English proficiency74/100✓38/100
Nightlife66/10072/100✓
Family friendliness68/10072/100✓
Median broadband85 Mbps180 Mbps✓
Climate
Average temperature29°C26°C✓
Summer high37°C36°C✓
Winter low21°C✓14°C
Sunshine hours per year2,700 h✓2,600 h
Annual rainfall1400 mm1150 mm✓
Practicalities
Remote-work visaNoYes✓
Beach access25 min✓None nearby
CurrencyINRTHB
Time zoneAsia/KolkataAsia/Bangkok

Chennai runs about 36% cheaper than Chiang Mai for this household, a difference of 253 USD a month.

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Cost of living in ChennaiCost of living in Chiang MaiConvert a salary between themFlip the comparison
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FAQ

Frequently asked

Is Chennai or Chiang Mai cheaper?

Chennai runs about 36% cheaper than Chiang Mai for this household, a difference of 253 USD a month.

What salary do you need in Chiang Mai compared with Chennai?

On a $100,000 gross salary you would take home $6,137 a month in Chennai and $6,510 in Chiang Mai, before local costs. Use the salary converter for an exact equivalent.

Which has better quality of life, Chennai or Chiang Mai?

Chennai scores 66/100 on safety and 64/100 on healthcare; Chiang Mai scores 76 and 64. Chennai averages 29°C against 26°C in Chiang Mai.