😐A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $288 in Dewas, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $486 in Dewas, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $683 in Dewas, rent included.
😐Chiang Mai costs about 196% more than Dewas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Dewas are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai36% lower, Dewas78% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Dewas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96฿64.0
$2.31₹219
-15.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.81฿615
$6.32₹600
197.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.92฿259
$4.15₹394
90.84%
Cappuccino
$1.91฿62.6
$1.70₹161
12.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84฿27.41
$0.36₹34.33
133.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35฿11.51
$0.12₹11.31
191.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.21฿72.1
$1.96₹186
12.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80฿124
$3.35₹318
13.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Dewas
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.64฿53.5
$0.66₹62.8
148.48%
White Bread(500g)
$1.62฿53.1
$0.42₹40.22
285.71%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.18฿38.62
$0.57₹54.1
107.02%
Eggs
$2.01฿65.8
$0.96₹91.6
109.37%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.89฿520
$4.20₹399
278.33%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.01฿98.5
$2.42₹229
24.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.77฿352
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.61฿85.5
$1.60₹152
63.12%
Banana(1kg)
$1.22฿39.88
$0.40₹37.91
205.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.70฿55.7
$0.55₹52.5
209.09%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.58฿51.5
$0.33₹31.71
378.79%
Potato(1kg)
$1.32฿43.14
$0.19₹18.09
594.74%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17฿38.23
$0.37₹34.74
216.22%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.67฿21.98
$0.19₹17.82
252.63%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56฿18.32
$0.30₹28.60
86.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.53฿148
$3.39₹321
33.63%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.20฿595
$5.29₹502
244.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83฿60.0
$1.98₹188
-7.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23฿106
$2.99₹284
8.03%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$5.67₹539
-
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Dewas
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.89฿29.00
$0.36₹34.41
147.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.38฿634
$8.71₹827
122.50%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.35฿44.20
$1.14₹108
18.42%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.35฿44.05
$0.25₹23.73
440.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.25฿270
$2.30₹219
258.70%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27฿41.64
$1.10₹104
15.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K฿691.8K
$13.7K₹1.3M
53.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K฿735.3K
$20.7K₹2.0M
8.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Dewas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.2฿2,294
$29.42₹2,793
138.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77฿450
$3.41₹324
303.81%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.60฿575
$4.75₹451
270.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Dewas
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.57฿1,360
$5.75₹546
622.96%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.60฿216
$6.98₹663
-5.44%
Cinema Ticket
$5.78฿189
$1.37₹131
321.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Dewas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306฿10.0K
$11.83₹1,123
2488.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8K฿484.8K
$3,075₹292.0K
382.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Dewas
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.4฿1,778
$13.92₹1,322
290.59%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.14฿855
$5.93₹563
340.81%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.5฿2,764
$40.57₹3,852
108.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.4฿2,270
$11.53₹1,094
502.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Dewas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$424฿13.9K
$51.5₹4,889
722.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$238฿7,788
$41.42₹3,933
475.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$825฿27.0K
$230₹21.8K
259.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$515฿16.8K
$172₹16.3K
199.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,049฿67.0K
$964₹91.5K
112.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,523฿49.8K
$511₹48.5K
197.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Dewas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$635฿20.8K
$487₹46.2K
30.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
8.2
-39.02%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026
Last update for Dewas: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $51.5 in Dewas. 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 31% 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 $6.00 in Dewas. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $88.0 – making Dewas 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 Dewas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Dewas?
Chiang Mai costs about 196% more than Dewas, 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 Dewas?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $432 in Dewas. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Dewas?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Dewas, 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 Dewas?
Kindergarten costs $306 per month in Chiang Mai and $11.83 in Dewas. 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 Dewas?
Groceries cost about 176% 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 Dewas?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $288 in Dewas, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Dewas?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Dewas costs $288 versus $852 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 Dewas?
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 Dewas?
If budget matters most, go with Dewas. 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