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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $422 in Daman, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $706 in Daman, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $989 in Daman, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 105% more than Daman, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Daman are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Daman 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$5.21 ₹496

-62.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$21.80 ₹2,077

-14.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$2.07 ₹198

277.78%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$2.66 ₹253

-26.69%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.49 ₹46.71

73.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.11 ₹10.08

218.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$2.38 ₹226

-10.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$4.02 ₹383

-7.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$0.68 ₹64.6

151.47%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.28 ₹26.66

482.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$0.49 ₹46.76

132.65%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$0.82 ₹78.0

135.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$6.87 ₹654

135.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$2.18 ₹208

43.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$2.37 ₹226

16.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$0.22 ₹20.90

450.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.27 ₹121

27.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$0.69 ₹65.3

130.43%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$0.53 ₹50.8

164.15%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$0.24 ₹22.87

387.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$0.69 ₹65.7

-4.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.27 ₹25.80

96.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$2.36 ₹225

98.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$8.33 ₹793

124.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$2.14 ₹203

-15.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$3.35 ₹319

-3.58%

Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)

$7.01 ₹667

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.30 ₹28.70

200.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$8.53 ₹813

125.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$0.34 ₹32.26

314.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$0.30 ₹28.90

330.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$1.44 ₹137

444.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$1.14 ₹108

11.40%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$17.7K ₹1.7M

20.54%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$25.2K ₹2.4M

-11.91%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$69.1 ฿2,256

$50.9 ₹4,846

35.78%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$14.08 ฿460

$2.84 ₹271

395.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$5.76 ₹549

212.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$15.91 ₹1,515

158.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$7.11 ₹677

-2.11%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$2.95 ₹281

100.68%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$299 ฿9,766

$121 ₹11.5K

146.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$415 ₹39.5K

3506.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$15.99 ₹1,523

242.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$30.99 ₹2,952

-13.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$27.38 ₹2,608

210.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$22.81 ₹2,173

209.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$122 ₹11.6K

250.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$81.9 ₹7,802

189.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$276 ₹26.3K

190.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$212 ₹20.2K

143.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$955 ₹90.9K

106.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$512 ₹48.7K

188.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$205 ₹19.5K

200.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-44.44%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Daman: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $122 in Daman. 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 201% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $22.00 in Daman. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $110 in Daman – so Daman wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Chiang Mai vs Daman: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 105% more than Daman, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $633 in Daman. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Daman, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $121 in Daman. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 124% 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.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $422 in Daman, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Daman costs $422 versus $866 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Daman. 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.