😐A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $376 in Dhule, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $597 in Dhule, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $818 in Dhule, rent included.
😐Chiang Mai costs about 126% more than Dhule, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Dhule are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai36% lower, Dhule72% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Dhule
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96฿64.0
$2.68₹254
-26.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.81฿615
$8.21₹779
129.11%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.92฿259
$2.30₹219
244.35%
Cappuccino
$1.91฿62.6
$1.98₹188
-3.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84฿27.41
$0.28₹26.43
200.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35฿11.51
$0.15₹14.28
133.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.21฿72.1
$1.78₹169
24.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80฿124
$3.07₹292
23.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Dhule
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.64฿53.5
$0.66₹62.8
148.48%
White Bread(500g)
$1.62฿53.1
$0.42₹39.95
285.71%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.18฿38.62
$0.42₹40.27
180.95%
Eggs
$2.01฿65.8
$0.86₹81.5
133.72%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.89฿520
$2.90₹275
447.93%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.01฿98.5
$2.28₹217
32.02%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.77฿352
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.61฿85.5
$2.27₹216
14.98%
Banana(1kg)
$1.22฿39.88
$0.57₹54.1
114.04%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.70฿55.7
$1.07₹102
58.88%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.58฿51.5
$0.39₹36.73
305.13%
Potato(1kg)
$1.32฿43.14
$0.27₹25.68
388.89%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17฿38.23
$0.27₹25.76
333.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.67฿21.98
$0.53₹50.5
26.42%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56฿18.32
$0.35₹33.67
60.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.53฿148
$3.81₹362
18.90%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.20฿595
$3.27₹310
456.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83฿60.0
$1.13₹107
61.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23฿106
$2.67₹253
20.97%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$4.33₹411
-
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Dhule
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.89฿29.00
$0.30₹28.54
196.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.38฿634
$8.80₹835
120.23%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.35฿44.20
$0.32₹30.17
321.88%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.35฿44.05
$0.22₹20.75
513.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.25฿270
$1.73₹164
376.88%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27฿41.64
$1.24₹118
2.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K฿691.8K
$11.5K₹1.1M
83.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K฿735.3K
$26.1K₹2.5M
-13.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Dhule
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.2฿2,294
$58.9₹5,590
19.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77฿450
$2.99₹284
360.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.60฿575
$6.44₹612
173.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Dhule
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.57฿1,360
$15.86₹1,505
162.11%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.60฿216
$6.89₹654
-4.21%
Cinema Ticket
$5.78฿189
$4.10₹389
40.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Dhule
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306฿10.0K
$85.7₹8,139
257.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8K฿484.8K
$1,519₹144.2K
875.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Dhule
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.4฿1,778
$23.26₹2,208
133.75%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.14฿855
$17.90₹1,700
46.03%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.5฿2,764
$43.32₹4,113
95.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.4฿2,270
$34.58₹3,283
100.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Dhule
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$424฿13.9K
$124₹11.8K
242.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$238฿7,788
$76.2₹7,231
212.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$825฿27.0K
$277₹26.3K
198.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$515฿16.8K
$178₹16.9K
189.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,049฿67.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,523฿49.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Dhule
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$635฿20.8K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
8.5
-41.18%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026
Last update for Dhule: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $124 in Dhule. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $8.00 in Dhule. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $82.0 – making Dhule 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 Dhule: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Dhule?
Chiang Mai costs about 126% more than Dhule, 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 Dhule?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $565 in Dhule. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Dhule?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Dhule, 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 Dhule?
Kindergarten costs $306 per month in Chiang Mai and $85.7 in Dhule. 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 Dhule?
Groceries cost about 195% 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 $1,200/month in Chiang Mai or Dhule?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $376 in Dhule, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Dhule?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Dhule costs $376 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 Dhule?
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 Dhule?
If budget matters most, go with Dhule. 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