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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $170 in Derna, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $333 in Derna, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $497 in Derna, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 402% more than Derna, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Derna are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Derna 87% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$4.52 LYD 28.67

-56.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$9.32 LYD 59.1

101.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$3.59 LYD 22.74

120.61%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.53 LYD 3.34

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 LYD 4.81

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$0.56 LYD 3.58

241.07%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$0.36 LYD 2.27

133.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$0.69 LYD 4.40

137.68%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$0.74 LYD 4.71

171.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$0.89 LYD 5.66

37.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$0.95 LYD 6.04

42.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

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

$13.77 ฿450

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$16.21 LYD 103

8.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

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

$306 ฿10.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$36.47 LYD 231

49.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$46.49 LYD 295

-43.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$46.18 LYD 293

83.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$46.55 LYD 295

49.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$182 LYD 1,151

354.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$111 LYD 703

364.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

$200 LYD 1,269

924.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

$79.4 LYD 503

1818.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

$172 LYD 1,088

270.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Last update for Derna: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 270% 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 $9.00 in Derna. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $15.00 – making Derna 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 Derna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 402% more than Derna, 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 $254 in Derna. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $852 in Chiang Mai and $170 in Derna. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 1493% 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.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $170 in Derna, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Derna costs $170 versus $852 in Chiang Mai. 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 Derna. 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.