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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,254 in Dilijan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,008 in Dilijan, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,762 in Dilijan, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 24% cheaper than Dilijan, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Dilijan are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Dilijan 9% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$10.79 ֏3,916

-80.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$41.31 ֏15.0K

-51.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$10.02 ֏3,635

-42.22%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$2.73 ֏989

-32.97%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$1.17 ֏425

-33.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$0.62 ֏227

-50.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$2.14 ֏776

9.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$2.70 ֏981

37.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$1.58 ֏572

28.48%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$0.99 ֏359

61.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$2.09 ֏759

-32.06%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$2.83 ֏1,028

-22.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$8.27 ֏3,001

92.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$7.34 ֏2,664

-58.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$14.11 ֏5,117

-30.05%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$1.41 ֏510

86.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$1.61 ֏584

-31.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$2.03 ֏738

-19.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$2.40 ֏872

-36.25%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$0.67 ֏244

85.07%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$0.69 ֏251

63.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

$0.91 ֏331

-18.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$0.79 ֏288

-36.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$2.81 ֏1,018

52.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

$10.79 ֏3,914

66.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

$1.46 ֏531

16.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

$2.06 ֏747

40.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

$0.26 ֏93.8

261.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$1.35 ֏489

-8.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

$0.39 ֏142

35.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

$13.18 ֏4,782

-81.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$1.49 ֏540

-3.36%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

$35.5K ֏12.9M

-40.34%

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

$32.8K ֏11.9M

-16.87%

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$122 ֏44.2K

-46.66%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$7.97 ֏2,892

67.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$21.90 ֏7,946

-4.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

$95.4 ֏34.6K

-57.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$2.77 ֏1,006

142.24%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$164 ֏59.6K

378.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

$9,884 ֏3.6M

52.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$97.8 ֏35.5K

-42.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$55.2 ֏20.0K

-54.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$138 ֏50.0K

-32.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$152 ֏55.3K

-50.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$578 ֏209.6K

-16.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

$379 ֏137.3K

-24.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

$1,017 ֏368.8K

-10.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$877 ֏318.2K

-39.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

$689 ֏249.8K

-12.09%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

13.8

-59.64%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Dilijan: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $578 in Dilijan. 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 14% higher in Dilijan, 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 $41.00 in Dilijan. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $236 in Dilijan – so Dilijan wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Dilijan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Dilijan costs about 32% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,881 in Dilijan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $41.00 in Dilijan. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 3% cheaper in Dilijan – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $950, than in Dilijan at $1,254. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Dilijan it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $950 versus $1,254 in Dilijan. 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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Dilijan makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.