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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $885 in Daule, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,339 in Daule, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,793 in Daule, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 4% cheaper than Daule, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Daule are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Daule 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$4.40 $4.40

-55.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$16.09 $16.09

16.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$7.49 $7.49

5.74%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$2.92 $2.92

-34.59%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$1.07 $1.07

-21.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.70 $0.70

-50.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$1.96 $1.96

12.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$3.95 $3.95

-3.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.01 $1.01

62.38%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$0.99 $0.99

63.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$1.09 $1.09

8.26%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$1.92 $1.92

4.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$7.66 $7.66

107.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$7.65 $7.65

-60.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$7.85 $7.85

37.20%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$2.01 $2.01

29.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$1.18 $1.18

3.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$1.07 $1.07

58.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$1.07 $1.07

47.66%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$0.79 $0.79

67.09%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$1.07 $1.07

9.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$0.48 $0.48

39.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$1.03 $1.03

-45.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$6.05 $6.05

-25.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$9.99 $9.99

82.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$1.22 $1.22

50.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.96 $1.96

64.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$0.36 $0.36

147.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

$23.73 $23.73

-18.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$1.52 $1.52

-11.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$1.54 $1.54

-12.34%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$7.86 $7.86

4.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$0.64 $0.64

98.44%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$19.7K $19.7K

7.49%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$25.9K $25.9K

-13.09%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$34.39 $34.39

103.98%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$14.41 $14.41

-4.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$28.62 $28.62

-38.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$30.26 $30.26

37.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

$14.66 $14.66

-54.98%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$7.20 $7.20

-19.72%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$250 $250

22.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$8,467 $8,467

75.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$58.3 $58.3

-6.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$43.51 $43.51

-39.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$78.6 $78.6

7.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$79.9 $79.9

-13.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$338 $338

25.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$314 $314

-24.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$621 $621

32.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$507 $507

1.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

$1,162 $1,162

76.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

$830 $830

83.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.49

-47.31%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Last update for Daule: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $338 in Daule. 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 $16.00 in Daule. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $192 – making Daule 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 Daule: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Daule costs about 4% more than Chiang Mai, 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 $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,327 in Daule. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $306 per month in Chiang Mai and $250 in Daule. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 27% cheaper in Daule – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $885 in Daule, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $885 in Daule. 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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Daule makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.