😐A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $515 in Depok, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $794 in Depok, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,074 in Depok, rent included.
😐Chiang Mai costs about 68% more than Depok, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Depok are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai35% lower, Depok62% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Depok
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.94฿63.5
$1.26Rp 22.5K
53.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.64฿609
$12.07Rp 215.5K
54.43%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.82฿255
$3.44Rp 61.5K
127.33%
Cappuccino
$1.95฿63.8
$1.48Rp 26.4K
31.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85฿27.77
$0.55Rp 9,891
54.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35฿11.58
$0.25Rp 4,441
40.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.13฿69.6
$2.82Rp 50.3K
-24.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73฿122
$4.32Rp 77.1K
-13.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Depok
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71฿56.0
$1.17Rp 20.8K
46.15%
White Bread(500g)
$1.63฿53.2
$1.06Rp 19.0K
53.77%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.14฿37.15
$0.94Rp 16.8K
21.28%
Eggs
$1.93฿63.1
$1.57Rp 28.1K
22.93%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.21฿530
$6.28Rp 112.2K
158.12%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.12฿102
$3.13Rp 55.9K
-0.32%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.90฿356
$7.96Rp 142.2K
36.93%
Apples(1kg)
$2.75฿90.0
$2.41Rp 43.1K
14.11%
Banana(1kg)
$1.21฿39.52
$1.33Rp 23.7K
-9.02%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.62฿53.0
$1.64Rp 29.2K
-1.22%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.59฿51.8
$1.51Rp 27.1K
5.30%
Potato(1kg)
$1.40฿45.70
$1.46Rp 26.0K
-4.11%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17฿38.17
$2.65Rp 47.4K
-55.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.66฿21.60
$0.90Rp 16.1K
-26.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53฿17.22
$0.42Rp 7,529
26.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.69฿153
$2.57Rp 45.8K
82.49%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.66฿609
$20.89Rp 373.0K
-10.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80฿58.8
$2.17Rp 38.7K
-17.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23฿106
$3.06Rp 54.6K
5.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Depok
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.90฿29.26
$0.24Rp 4,282
275.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.21฿628
$9.29Rp 166.0K
106.78%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41฿45.91
$0.72Rp 12.9K
95.83%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.29฿42.12
$0.37Rp 6,650
248.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.84฿256
$2.51Rp 44.8K
212.35%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27฿41.58
$0.78Rp 13.9K
62.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.3K฿694.9K
$30.2KRp 538.7M
-29.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.2K฿725.4K
$32.5KRp 581.1M
-31.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Depok
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$69.1฿2,256
$43.79Rp 782.0K
57.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.08฿460
$4.67Rp 83.3K
201.50%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.00฿588
$26.87Rp 479.9K
-33.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Depok
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.06฿1,341
$9.49Rp 169.5K
332.67%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.96฿227
$4.25Rp 75.9K
63.76%
Cinema Ticket
$5.92฿193
$3.01Rp 53.7K
96.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Depok
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$299฿9,766
$92.2Rp 1.6M
224.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.0K฿488.3K
$7,508Rp 134.1M
99.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Depok
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.7฿1,787
$42.10Rp 751.8K
29.93%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.77฿874
$31.16Rp 556.5K
-14.09%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.0฿2,776
$59.9Rp 1.1M
41.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.6฿2,306
$63.7Rp 1.1M
10.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Depok
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$428฿14.0K
$118Rp 2.1M
262.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$237฿7,752
$46.93Rp 838.0K
405.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$801฿26.2K
$182Rp 3.2M
341.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$515฿16.8K
$122Rp 2.2M
321.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,975฿64.5K
$842Rp 15.0M
134.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,475฿48.2K
$706Rp 12.6M
109.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Depok
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$617฿20.2K
$359Rp 6.4M
71.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
9.15
-45.36%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026
Last update for Depok: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $118 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 72% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $12.00 in Depok. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $202 – 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 68% 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 vs Depok?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $772 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 Depok?
Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $92.2 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 Depok?
Groceries cost about 22% 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 $800/month in Chiang Mai or Depok?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $515 in Depok, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Depok?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Depok costs $515 versus $866 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 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.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared