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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $292 in Dewas, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $485 in Dewas, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $678 in Dewas, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 192% more than Dewas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Dewas are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Dewas 78% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Dewas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.04 ฿68.2
$2.40 ₹229
-15.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.71 ฿624
$6.45 ₹615
190.08%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.86 ฿262
$3.98 ₹380
97.49%
Cappuccino
$2.03 ฿67.7
$1.76 ₹168
15.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80 ฿26.64
$0.34 ₹32.36
135.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.68
$0.13 ₹12.85
169.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.14 ฿71.5
$1.90 ₹181
12.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.67 ฿122
$3.24 ₹309
13.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Dewas
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.73 ฿57.6
$0.65 ₹62.3
166.15%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ฿52.4
$0.42 ₹40.26
273.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.20 ฿39.99
$0.57 ₹54.1
110.53%
Eggs
$1.97 ฿65.8
$0.88 ₹83.8
123.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.23 ฿541
$4.10 ₹391
295.85%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.06 ฿102
$2.51 ₹239
21.91%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.80 ฿360
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.77 ฿92.3
$1.53 ₹146
81.05%
Banana (1kg)
$1.17 ฿38.94
$0.42 ₹40.15
178.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ฿57.0
$0.59 ₹56.4
189.83%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 ฿53.2
$0.34 ₹32.07
367.65%
Potato (1kg)
$1.39 ฿46.51
$0.19 ₹18.45
631.58%
Onion (1kg)
$1.16 ฿38.56
$0.36 ₹34.35
222.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.66 ฿22.05
$0.16 ₹15.03
312.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.31
$0.28 ₹26.55
85.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.65 ฿155
$3.54 ₹338
31.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.78 ฿593
$5.19 ₹495
242.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ฿59.6
$1.91 ₹182
-6.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.34 ฿111
$2.98 ₹284
12.08%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$5.71 ₹544
-
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Dewas
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.91 ฿30.27
$0.36 ₹34.68
152.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.64 ฿622
$8.82 ₹841
111.34%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 ฿47.04
$1.14 ₹109
23.68%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.34 ฿44.70
$0.25 ₹23.60
436.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.11 ฿270
$2.29 ₹219
254.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 ฿41.16
$1.10 ₹104
11.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K ฿715.1K
$13.3K ₹1.3M
61.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿728.0K
$21.2K ₹2.0M
2.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Dewas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$71.3 ฿2,379
$29.40 ₹2,804
142.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.01 ฿467
$3.28 ₹313
327.13%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.93 ฿598
$4.77 ₹455
275.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Dewas
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.82 ฿1,362
$5.97 ₹569
583.75%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88 ฿230
$6.99 ₹667
-1.57%
Cinema Ticket
$5.72 ฿191
$1.42 ₹135
302.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Dewas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 ฿10.3K
$11.72 ₹1,118
2530.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ฿489.7K
$3,069 ₹292.7K
378.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Dewas
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8 ฿1,860
$13.94 ₹1,330
300.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.04 ฿869
$5.83 ₹556
346.66%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.8 ฿2,829
$40.63 ₹3,875
108.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.0 ฿2,368
$11.42 ₹1,090
521.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Dewas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$423 ฿14.1K
$52.9 ₹5,049
699.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$242 ฿8,088
$40.55 ₹3,867
497.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$797 ฿26.6K
$233 ₹22.2K
242.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$507 ฿16.9K
$178 ₹17.0K
185.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,918 ฿64.0K
$977 ₹93.2K
96.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,464 ฿48.8K
$510 ₹48.6K
187.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Dewas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$595 ฿19.9K
$484 ₹46.1K
23.07%
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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Dewas: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $52.9 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 23% 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: $244 vs $87.0 – 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 192% 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 and in Dewas?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $438 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 in Dewas?
Kindergarten costs $308 per month in Chiang Mai and $11.72 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 in Dewas?
Groceries cost about 182% 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 Dewas?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $292 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 $292 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 to 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.

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