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 $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $201 in Dar'a, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $400 in Dar'a, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $599 in Dar'a, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 331% more than Dar'a, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Dar'a are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Dar'a 85% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$2.98 SYP 330

-34.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$15.08 SYP 1,666

23.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$0.97 SYP 107

101.03%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.73 SYP 80.4

16.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.52 SYP 57.6

-32.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$0.48 SYP 53.5

256.25%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.29 SYP 31.81

462.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$1.23 SYP 136

-7.32%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$1.22 SYP 135

58.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$4.09 SYP 451

296.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$3.12 SYP 345

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$6.56 SYP 725

66.16%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$0.31 SYP 34.37

787.10%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$1.17 SYP 130

3.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$0.61 SYP 68.0

165.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$0.31 SYP 34.71

412.90%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$0.38 SYP 42.12

268.42%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$0.24 SYP 26.43

387.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$0.26 SYP 28.60

153.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.52 SYP 57.7

1.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$2.25 SYP 249

108.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.27 SYP 30.14

233.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$1.48 SYP 164

-12.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$4.06 SYP 449

93.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$1.73 SYP 191

-26.59%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

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

$14.08 ฿460

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$3.40 SYP 375

1107.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$6.04 SYP 667

15.23%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$3.08 SYP 341

92.21%

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

$299 ฿9,766

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$9.85 SYP 1,088

455.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$25.28 SYP 2,794

5.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$17.21 SYP 1,902

310.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$49.20 SYP 5,437

770.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$34.83 SYP 3,849

581.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$204 SYP 22.5K

293.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$123 SYP 13.6K

319.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Dar'a: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $49.20 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $15.00 in Dar'a. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 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 331% 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $302 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 $866 in Chiang Mai and $201 in Dar'a. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 184% 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 $201 in Dar'a, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Dar'a costs $201 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 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.