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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,124 in Dealu, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,848 in Dealu, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,572 in Dealu, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 16% cheaper than Dealu, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Dealu are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Dealu 18% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.4

$15.14 RON 68.4

-86.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿644

$88.4 RON 399

-77.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿186

$8.94 RON 40.35

-36.80%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.2

$2.14 RON 9.68

-15.42%

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

$0.71 ฿23.40

$2.07 RON 9.36

-65.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.36

$1.98 RON 8.94

-83.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿73.4

$2.61 RON 11.79

-14.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿119

$3.42 RON 15.43

6.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿64.3

$1.80 RON 8.12

8.89%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.29

$1.43 RON 6.44

4.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.84

$1.76 RON 7.95

-23.86%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿74.3

$4.91 RON 22.17

-53.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿533

$8.96 RON 40.44

81.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿96.9

$5.62 RON 25.36

-47.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿326

$10.70 RON 48.33

-7.10%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿84.4

$1.17 RON 5.27

119.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿34.66

$1.54 RON 6.95

-31.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿52.9

$1.66 RON 7.50

-3.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.86

$2.70 RON 12.18

-43.70%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿41.68

$0.78 RON 3.50

62.82%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿34.99

$0.67 RON 3.01

59.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.63

$0.77 RON 3.45

-6.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.69

$0.85 RON 3.84

-40.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿138

$5.81 RON 26.25

-27.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿586

$6.63 RON 29.93

169.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿55.6

$1.57 RON 7.11

7.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿93.1

$2.03 RON 9.14

39.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.36

$0.80 RON 3.61

16.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,767

$22.32 RON 101

141.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.50

$0.65 RON 2.91

89.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿18.92

$0.71 RON 3.19

-18.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿79.5

$7.30 RON 32.95

-66.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.34

$1.89 RON 8.52

-25.40%

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

$21.4K ฿703.6K

$29.1K RON 131.5K

-26.39%

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

$27.3K ฿896.8K

$29.5K RON 133.2K

-7.32%

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

$63.7 ฿2,089

$110 RON 498

-42.31%

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

$12.85 ฿422

$11.17 RON 50.4

15.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿663

$5.11 RON 23.07

295.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,271

$39.72 RON 179

-2.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

$21.12 RON 95.4

-81.20%

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿221

$10.93 RON 49.36

-38.33%

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

$778 ฿25.5K

$630 RON 2,843

23.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿479.4K

$7,292 RON 32.9K

100.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,781

$62.9 RON 284

-13.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿835

$37.57 RON 170

-32.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,095

$131 RON 591

-27.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,410

$109 RON 493

-32.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.1K

$401 RON 1,808

22.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,492

$302 RON 1,363

-4.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.3K

$624 RON 2,817

43.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.0K

$469 RON 2,118

10.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.1K

$1,908 RON 8,616

2.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿48.5K

$1,364 RON 6,157

8.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿19.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

6.97

-20.09%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Last update for Dealu: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $401 in Dealu. 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $88.0 in Dealu. Groceries tell a different story – $240 in Chiang Mai vs $223 in Dealu – so Dealu 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 Dealu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Dealu costs about 19% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. 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 $1,685 in Dealu. 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 $778 per month in Chiang Mai and $630 in Dealu. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 8% cheaper in Dealu – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $947, than in Dealu at $1,124. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Dealu it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $947 versus $1,124 in Dealu. 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, Dealu makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.