😐A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $257 in Dewas, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $419 in Dewas, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $581 in Dewas, rent included.
😐Chiang Mai costs about 262% more than Dewas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Dewas are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai32% lower, Dewas81% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Dewas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.08฿69.5
$1.99₹191
4.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.61฿655
$5.66₹543
246.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.67฿189
$3.19₹306
77.74%
Cappuccino
$1.81฿60.3
$1.94₹187
-6.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77฿25.65
$0.31₹30.21
148.39%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35฿11.53
$0.15₹14.25
133.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.21฿73.9
$1.23₹118
79.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79฿127
$2.48₹238
52.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Dewas
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.05฿68.4
$0.61₹58.9
236.07%
White Bread(500g)
$1.51฿50.6
$0.44₹42.27
243.18%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.40฿46.69
$0.65₹62.5
115.38%
Eggs
$2.26฿75.4
$0.81₹77.4
179.01%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.19฿540
$4.62₹443
250.43%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.90฿96.7
$2.41₹231
20.33%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.42฿314
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.68฿89.4
$1.66₹159
61.45%
Banana(1kg)
$1.09฿36.37
$0.50₹47.53
118.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.62฿54.0
$0.79₹75.5
105.06%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.46฿48.74
$0.50₹47.72
192.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.28฿42.65
$0.25₹24.16
412.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.06฿35.31
$0.37₹35.58
186.49%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.72฿23.94
$0.18₹17.22
300.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53฿17.56
$0.29₹27.59
82.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.23฿141
$3.43₹329
23.32%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.29฿611
$5.08₹487
260.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63฿54.4
$1.44₹138
13.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90฿96.8
$2.59₹248
11.97%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$4.98₹478
-
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Dewas
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.88฿29.32
$0.29₹28.28
203.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$53.8฿1,795
$7.08₹679
659.46%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.17฿39.14
$1.06₹102
10.38%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.58฿19.30
$0.10₹9.58
480.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.39฿79.6
$1.02₹98.1
134.31%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.45฿48.41
$1.04₹99.3
39.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K฿701.4K
$11.5K₹1.1M
82.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K฿882.0K
$17.6K₹1.7M
49.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Dewas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$63.7฿2,125
$12.68₹1,217
401.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.89฿430
$2.66₹255
384.59%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.52฿685
$7.13₹684
187.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Dewas
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.02฿1,302
$6.82₹655
472.14%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.92฿131
$6.35₹609
-38.27%
Cinema Ticket
$6.58฿220
$2.32₹223
183.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Dewas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$784฿26.2K
$10.31₹989
7503.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.7K฿489.8K
$2,396₹229.9K
512.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Dewas
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.1฿1,840
$12.67₹1,215
334.96%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.74฿826
$8.94₹858
176.73%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.1฿3,142
$25.81₹2,477
264.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.0฿2,469
$12.67₹1,215
483.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Dewas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$490฿16.4K
$46.89₹4,498
945.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$288฿9,620
$34.37₹3,297
738.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$891฿29.8K
$167₹16.0K
434.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$521฿17.4K
$118₹11.4K
339.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,974฿65.9K
$963₹92.4K
104.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,444฿48.2K
$514₹49.3K
181.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Dewas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$602฿20.1K
$489₹46.9K
23.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
9
-38.11%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026
Last update for Dewas: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $46.89 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $6.00 in Dewas. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 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 262% 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 $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $386 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 $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $10.31 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 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 $1,500/month in Chiang Mai or in Dewas?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Dewas, where all-in costs run around $257, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Dewas 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 Dewas?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Dewas costs $257 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 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.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared