Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Dar'a Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Dar'a

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $203 in Dar'a, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $396 in Dar'a, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $590 in Dar'a, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 325% more than Dar'a, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Dar'a are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Dar'a 85% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.9

$2.96 SYP 360

-33.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$15.22 SYP 1,850

20.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$0.97 SYP 118

108.25%

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

$0.85 ฿28.52

$0.74 SYP 89.6

14.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.97

$0.52 SYP 62.9

-30.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$0.52 SYP 63.3

217.31%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$0.29 SYP 34.77

441.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.05

$1.17 SYP 142

1.71%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$1.23 SYP 149

57.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿545

$3.90 SYP 473

315.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$3.24 SYP 393

-7.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$6.64 SYP 807

64.76%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$0.29 SYP 34.74

834.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.27

$1.22 SYP 148

-4.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.8

$0.62 SYP 75.1

172.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$0.31 SYP 37.73

416.13%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.56

$0.38 SYP 46.71

263.16%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.47

$0.24 SYP 28.94

400.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.51

$0.28 SYP 34.30

139.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.74

$0.51 SYP 62.3

9.80%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$2.22 SYP 270

109.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.70

$0.25 SYP 30.35

252.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿651

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.92

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿45.00

$1.52 SYP 185

-11.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$3.96 SYP 481

107.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.20

$1.66 SYP 201

-26.51%

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

$21.4K ฿718.5K

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

$22.5K ฿758.1K

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

$70.7 ฿2,378

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

$14.04 ฿472

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿589

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,418

$3.53 SYP 429

1094.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$6.07 SYP 737

13.34%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$2.91 SYP 354

103.44%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,876

$10.13 SYP 1,231

450.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿879

$25.25 SYP 3,069

3.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,793

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,371

$16.96 SYP 2,061

315.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$49.38 SYP 6,001

774.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,040

$34.67 SYP 4,213

589.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$198 SYP 24.0K

315.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$125 SYP 15.2K

310.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Dar'a: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $49.38 in Dar'a. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $15.00 in Dar'a. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $87.0 – making Dar'a 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

Chiang Mai vs Dar'a: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 325% more than Dar'a, 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 $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $304 in Dar'a. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $861 in Chiang Mai and $203 in Dar'a. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 179% 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 $861 in Chiang Mai and $203 in Dar'a, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Dar'a costs $203 versus $861 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 Dar'a. 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.