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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $539 in Depok, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $811 in Depok, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,082 in Depok, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 73% more than Depok, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Depok are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Depok 61% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Depok
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.08 ฿69.2
$1.44 Rp 25.6K
44.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.61 ฿652
$14.16 Rp 251.3K
38.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.67 ฿189
$3.44 Rp 61.0K
64.83%
Cappuccino
$1.81 ฿60.0
$1.50 Rp 26.7K
20.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 ฿25.55
$0.45 Rp 8,012
71.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.48
$0.26 Rp 4,638
34.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ฿73.6
$2.71 Rp 48.2K
-18.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 ฿126
$3.19 Rp 56.7K
18.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Depok
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.05 ฿68.1
$1.27 Rp 22.5K
61.42%
White Bread (500g)
$1.51 ฿50.4
$1.04 Rp 18.4K
45.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.40 ฿46.51
$0.87 Rp 15.4K
60.92%
Eggs
$2.26 ฿75.1
$1.54 Rp 27.3K
46.75%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.19 ฿538
$7.37 Rp 130.8K
119.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.90 ฿96.3
$2.89 Rp 51.3K
0.35%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.42 ฿313
$7.81 Rp 138.6K
20.61%
Apples (1kg)
$2.68 ฿89.1
$2.24 Rp 39.8K
19.64%
Banana (1kg)
$1.09 ฿36.23
$1.12 Rp 19.8K
-2.68%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.62 ฿53.8
$1.55 Rp 27.6K
4.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.46 ฿48.55
$0.95 Rp 16.9K
53.68%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 ฿42.48
$1.06 Rp 18.9K
20.75%
Onion (1kg)
$1.06 ฿35.17
$2.00 Rp 35.5K
-47.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿23.85
$0.65 Rp 11.5K
10.77%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.49
$0.44 Rp 7,724
20.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.23 ฿141
$2.77 Rp 49.2K
52.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.29 ฿608
$21.29 Rp 377.9K
-14.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 ฿54.2
$1.86 Rp 33.1K
-12.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90 ฿96.5
$3.13 Rp 55.5K
-7.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Depok
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 ฿29.20
$0.22 Rp 3,890
300.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.8 ฿1,788
$13.18 Rp 233.8K
307.97%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.17 ฿38.99
$0.86 Rp 15.3K
36.05%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.58 ฿19.22
$0.35 Rp 6,218
65.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.39 ฿79.3
$2.28 Rp 40.5K
4.82%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.22
$0.79 Rp 14.1K
83.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K ฿698.6K
$21.5K Rp 380.8M
-2.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K ฿878.6K
$29.4K Rp 521.2M
-10.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Depok
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$63.7 ฿2,116
$34.60 Rp 614.1K
83.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.89 ฿429
$4.34 Rp 77.1K
197.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.52 ฿682
$19.30 Rp 342.5K
6.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Depok
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.02 ฿1,297
$3.35 Rp 59.5K
1064.78%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.92 ฿130
$5.64 Rp 100.1K
-30.50%
Cinema Ticket
$6.58 ฿219
$2.90 Rp 51.4K
126.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Depok
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$784 ฿26.1K
$93.8 Rp 1.7M
735.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ฿487.9K
$8,237 Rp 146.2M
78.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Depok
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.1 ฿1,833
$45.47 Rp 807.0K
21.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.74 ฿823
$29.02 Rp 515.1K
-14.75%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.1 ฿3,130
$73.2 Rp 1.3M
28.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.0 ฿2,459
$72.4 Rp 1.3M
2.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Depok
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$490 ฿16.3K
$214 Rp 3.8M
129.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$288 ฿9,582
$107 Rp 1.9M
169.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$891 ฿29.6K
$258 Rp 4.6M
245.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$521 ฿17.3K
$143 Rp 2.5M
263.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,974 ฿65.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,444 ฿48.0K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Depok
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$602 ฿20.0K
$230 Rp 4.1M
161.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
9.46
-41.12%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Depok: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $214 in Depok. 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 162% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $14.00 in Depok. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $195 – making Depok 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 Depok: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Depok?
Chiang Mai costs about 73% more than Depok, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 Depok?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $809 in Depok. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Depok?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Depok, 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 Depok?
Kindergarten costs $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $93.8 in Depok. 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 Depok?
Groceries cost about 24% 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 $1,000/month in Chiang Mai or in Depok?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Depok, where all-in costs run around $539, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Depok 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 Depok?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Depok costs $539 versus $932 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 Depok?
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 Depok?
If budget matters most, go with Depok. 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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