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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $508 in Dobrush, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $850 in Dobrush, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,193 in Dobrush, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 87% more than Dobrush, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Dobrush are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Dobrush 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.5

$6.49 BYN 19.86

-67.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿646

$28.83 BYN 88.2

-31.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿186

$4.16 BYN 12.72

35.82%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.3

$1.51 BYN 4.61

19.87%

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

$0.71 ฿23.44

$0.61 BYN 1.87

16.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.38

$0.32 BYN 0.97

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿73.5

$1.17 BYN 3.57

91.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿119

$2.51 BYN 7.67

44.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿64.4

$0.73 BYN 2.25

168.49%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.38

$0.57 BYN 1.74

163.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.92

$1.07 BYN 3.27

25.23%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿74.4

$1.39 BYN 4.24

62.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿534

$6.62 BYN 20.25

145.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.1

$4.11 BYN 12.56

-28.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿327

$6.09 BYN 18.64

63.22%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿84.5

$1.25 BYN 3.82

105.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿34.72

$1.73 BYN 5.30

-38.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.0

$1.77 BYN 5.42

-9.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.96

$1.69 BYN 5.18

-10.06%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿41.76

$0.41 BYN 1.26

209.76%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.05

$0.60 BYN 1.84

78.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.67

$0.94 BYN 2.89

-23.40%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.72

$0.46 BYN 1.42

10.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿138

$1.91 BYN 5.84

119.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿587

$7.61 BYN 23.29

134.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿55.7

$1.00 BYN 3.06

69.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿93.2

$1.92 BYN 5.86

47.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.42

$0.32 BYN 0.97

190.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,770

$14.79 BYN 45.26

264.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.58

$0.66 BYN 2.02

86.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿18.96

$0.47 BYN 1.45

23.40%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿79.7

$10.03 BYN 30.70

-75.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.42

$0.89 BYN 2.73

58.43%

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

$21.4K ฿704.9K

$19.6K BYN 60.1K

9.25%

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

$27.3K ฿898.5K

$19.9K BYN 60.9K

37.29%

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

$63.7 ฿2,093

$60.9 BYN 186

4.57%

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

$12.85 ฿423

$7.39 BYN 22.61

73.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿665

$11.53 BYN 35.28

75.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,274

$33.27 BYN 102

16.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿221

$3.19 BYN 9.76

111.29%

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

$778 ฿25.6K

$323 BYN 987

141.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿480.2K

$9,837 BYN 30.1K

48.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,785

$44.22 BYN 135

22.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿836

$45.05 BYN 138

-43.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,101

$86.8 BYN 266

8.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,414

$105 BYN 322

-30.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.1K

$324 BYN 992

51.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,510

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.4K

$557 BYN 1,703

60.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.3K

$1,140 BYN 3,489

71.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿48.5K

$893 BYN 2,732

65.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿19.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-62.87%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Last update for Dobrush: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $324 in Dobrush. 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $29.00 in Dobrush. Groceries tell a different story – $240 in Chiang Mai vs $150 in Dobrush – so Dobrush 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 Dobrush: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 87% more than Dobrush, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,421 per month in Chiang Mai and $762 in Dobrush. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $778 per month in Chiang Mai and $323 in Dobrush. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 61% 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.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Dobrush, where all-in costs run around $508, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Dobrush it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Dobrush costs $508 versus $947 in Chiang Mai. 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 Dobrush. 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.