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 $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $401 in Daman, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $651 in Daman, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $902 in Daman, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 136% more than Daman, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Daman are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Daman 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.2

$2.06 ₹196

0.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿651

$20.99 ₹1,993

-6.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿188

$4.08 ₹388

38.48%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.9

$2.63 ₹250

-31.18%

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

$0.71 ฿23.66

$0.38 ₹35.69

86.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.48

$0.15 ₹14.36

113.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿74.2

$2.56 ₹243

-12.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿121

$4.24 ₹402

-14.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿65.0

$0.61 ₹57.7

221.31%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.83

$0.31 ₹29.23

383.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿44.32

$0.41 ₹38.86

226.83%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.1

$0.73 ₹69.5

209.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿539

$5.80 ₹551

180.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿98.0

$2.04 ₹194

44.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿330

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿85.3

$2.26 ₹214

13.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.04

$0.22 ₹20.92

381.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.5

$1.16 ₹110

38.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.4

$0.52 ₹49.58

192.31%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿42.14

$0.38 ₹35.88

234.21%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.37

$0.20 ₹18.98

435.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.89

$0.45 ₹42.68

60.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.87

$0.25 ₹23.89

104.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿139

$2.04 ₹194

105.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿593

$8.33 ₹791

114.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿56.2

$2.09 ₹199

-19.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿94.1

$3.07 ₹292

-7.49%

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

$6.16 ₹585

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.70

$0.26 ₹24.22

257.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,787

$7.94 ₹754

578.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.95

$0.31 ₹29.35

296.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.13

$0.31 ₹29.17

87.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿80.4

$1.59 ₹151

52.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.84

$1.08 ₹102

30.56%

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

$21.4K ฿711.3K

$16.1K ₹1.5M

33.31%

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

$27.3K ฿906.7K

$22.7K ₹2.2M

20.53%

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

$63.7 ฿2,112

$61.0 ₹5,791

4.41%

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

$12.85 ฿426

$2.59 ₹246

396.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿671

$5.37 ₹510

276.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,285

$14.20 ₹1,348

172.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿132

$6.99 ₹664

-43.20%

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿223

$2.60 ₹247

159.23%

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

$778 ฿25.8K

$48.88 ₹4,642

1491.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿484.6K

$375 ₹35.6K

3799.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,801

$14.76 ₹1,402

267.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿844

$23.21 ₹2,204

9.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,129

$24.90 ₹2,365

278.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,436

$21.39 ₹2,031

243.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.2K

$111 ₹10.6K

340.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,596

$73.9 ₹7,020

291.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.6K

$254 ₹24.1K

252.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.1K

$194 ₹18.4K

167.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.9K

$959 ₹91.0K

103.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿49.0K

$519 ₹49.2K

184.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

$208 ₹19.7K

189.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-7.17%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Last update for Daman: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $111 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 190% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $21.00 in Daman. Groceries tell a different story – $240 in Chiang Mai vs $101 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 136% 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 $1,421 per month in Chiang Mai and $601 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 $778 per month in Chiang Mai and $48.88 in Daman. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 139% 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.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Daman, where all-in costs run around $401, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Daman it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Daman costs $401 versus $947 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.