Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Denizli

For one person, living is cheaper in Denizli: $783 a month against $938 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $1,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$938
/mo nomad
Denizli
🇹🇷 Turkey
$783
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Denizli

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Denizli actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $938 per month in Chiang Mai vs $783 in Denizli, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $938
  • Denizli $783

A couple spends around $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,260 in Denizli, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,426
  • Denizli $1,260

A family of three spends $1,914 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,737 in Denizli, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,914
  • Denizli $1,737

Chiang Mai costs about 20% more than Denizli, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Chiang Mai and Denizli are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 30% lower, Denizli 42% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Denizli
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.26 ฿75.4
$6.24 ₺309
-63.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.18 ฿641
$36.18 ₺1,791
-46.99%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.59 ฿187
$7.21 ₺357
-22.47%
Cappuccino
$1.72 ฿57.6
$2.05 ₺101
-16.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 ฿21.54
$1.18 ₺58.6
-45.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ฿11.18
$0.23 ₺11.18
43.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.36 ฿78.7
$1.91 ₺94.5
23.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.90 ฿130
$1.75 ₺86.8
122.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Denizli
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.05 ฿68.6
$0.71 ₺35.01
188.73%
White Bread (500g)
$1.40 ฿46.70
$0.96 ₺47.73
45.83%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.28 ฿42.89
$2.01 ₺99.4
-36.32%
Eggs
$2.25 ฿75.3
$1.26 ₺62.6
78.57%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.94 ฿566
$9.47 ₺469
78.88%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.74 ฿91.6
$3.02 ₺150
-9.27%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.36 ฿313
$21.61 ₺1,070
-56.69%
Apples (1kg)
$2.40 ฿80.3
$2.05 ₺102
17.07%
Banana (1kg)
$1.01 ฿33.92
$2.18 ₺108
-53.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.61 ฿53.9
$0.63 ₺31.31
155.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.52 ฿50.7
$0.84 ₺41.57
80.95%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 ฿42.90
$0.42 ₺20.78
204.76%
Onion (1kg)
$1.11 ฿37.22
$0.36 ₺17.67
208.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿24.09
$0.59 ₺29.32
22.03%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.54
$0.72 ₺35.78
-27.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.33 ฿145
$2.17 ₺108
99.54%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.73 ฿593
$4.78 ₺236
270.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 ฿54.4
$1.79 ₺88.7
-8.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85 ฿95.3
$1.67 ₺82.7
70.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Denizli
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.85 ฿28.31
$0.53 ₺26.14
60.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.9 ฿1,801
$60.7 ₺3,006
-11.23%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.17 ฿39.18
$3.59 ₺177
-67.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.57 ฿19.00
$0.99 ₺49.03
-42.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.37 ฿79.2
$5.57 ₺276
-57.45%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.32
$1.41 ₺69.6
2.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.5K ฿684.3K
$41.4K ₺2.1M
-50.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K ฿886.1K
$36.0K ₺1.8M
-26.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Denizli
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.3 ฿2,083
$79.6 ₺3,942
-21.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.27 ฿410
$7.23 ₺358
69.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.97 ฿668
$10.28 ₺509
94.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Denizli
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.91 ฿1,267
$25.64 ₺1,269
47.85%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.76 ฿126
$12.11 ₺600
-68.95%
Cinema Ticket
$6.71 ฿224
$4.80 ₺237
39.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Denizli
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$797 ฿26.6K
$224 ₺11.1K
255.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿495.7K
$14.3K ₺710.0K
3.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Denizli
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.3 ฿1,780
$45.23 ₺2,239
17.73%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.05 ฿837
$37.33 ₺1,848
-32.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.6 ฿3,062
$91.7 ₺4,542
-0.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.5 ฿2,455
$40.00 ₺1,980
83.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Denizli
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$464 ฿15.5K
$221 ₺11.0K
109.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$305 ฿10.2K
$164 ₺8,144
85.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$915 ฿30.6K
$358 ₺17.7K
155.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$552 ฿18.5K
$304 ₺15.0K
81.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,912 ฿63.9K
$1,031 ₺51.0K
85.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,438 ฿48.1K
$603 ₺29.9K
138.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Denizli
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$595 ฿19.9K
$1,101 ₺54.5K
-45.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
42.33
-86.84%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 13, 2026

Last update for Denizli: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$305
Denizli
$164 46% $140
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$238
Denizli
$203 14.7% $35
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$110
Denizli
$96 12% $13
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$95
Denizli
$97 2.7% $2.6
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$79
Denizli
$115 45.3% $36
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$61
Denizli
$71 16.4% $10
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$51
Denizli
$35 31.4% $16

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $464 in Chiang Mai versus $221 in Denizli. 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 85% higher in Denizli, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $36.00 in Denizli. Groceries tell a different story – $238 in Chiang Mai vs $203 in Denizli – so Denizli wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇹🇷 Denizli
🕒 Local time
11:22 11:22 AM
07:22 7:22 AM
4 h behind Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
1,051,056
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

TRY, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Turkish Lira exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 49.51 TRY (100 TRY = 2.02 USD). 1 EUR = 55.66 TRY (100 TRY = 1.8 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Mai Denizli 7,000 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • Denizli

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Denizli: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Denizli?
Chiang Mai costs about 20% more than Denizli, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai and in Denizli?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,408 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,174 in Denizli. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Denizli?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Denizli, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Denizli?
Kindergarten costs $797 per month in Chiang Mai and $224 in Denizli. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or in Denizli?
Groceries cost about 17% 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.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Chiang Mai or in Denizli?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Denizli, where all-in costs run around $783, than in Chiang Mai at $938. In Denizli it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Denizli?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Denizli costs $783 versus $938 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Denizli?
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.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or to Denizli?
If budget matters most, go with Denizli. 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.

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