😐A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $458 in Dombivli, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $686 in Dombivli, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $913 in Dombivli, rent included.
😐Chiang Mai costs about 88% more than Dombivli, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Dombivli are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai36% lower, Dombivli66% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Dombivli
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96฿65.8
$2.88₹277
-31.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.35฿617
$17.13₹1,652
7.12%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.48฿252
$4.71₹455
58.81%
Cappuccino
$2.02฿67.8
$2.04₹196
-0.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85฿28.50
$0.40₹38.98
112.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36฿11.96
$0.18₹17.11
100.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.14฿71.8
$2.28₹220
-6.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59฿121
$3.58₹345
0.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Dombivli
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65฿55.5
$0.76₹72.8
117.11%
White Bread(500g)
$1.57฿52.7
$0.47₹44.97
234.04%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.19฿40.02
$0.70₹67.2
70.00%
Eggs
$1.94฿65.1
$1.04₹101
86.54%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.19฿544
$6.72₹648
140.92%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.99฿101
$4.16₹401
-28.13%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.94฿368
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.71฿91.2
$1.97₹190
37.56%
Banana(1kg)
$1.17฿39.25
$0.87₹83.7
34.48%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.69฿56.7
$1.12₹108
50.89%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.60฿54.0
$0.58₹56.1
175.86%
Potato(1kg)
$1.38฿46.54
$0.50₹48.19
176.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.20฿40.45
$0.50₹48.55
140.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.67฿22.50
$0.41₹39.93
63.41%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56฿18.73
$0.34₹32.56
64.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.64฿156
$4.23₹408
9.69%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.62฿593
$6.34₹612
177.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿62.5
$1.96₹189
-5.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30฿111
$2.23₹215
47.98%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$6.90₹666
-
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Dombivli
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.88฿29.68
$0.24₹23.23
266.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.34฿650
$4.53₹437
326.93%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.36฿45.90
$0.37₹35.24
267.57%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.34฿44.98
$0.33₹31.84
306.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.21฿276
$1.14₹110
620.18%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.22฿41.18
$1.19₹114
2.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K฿718.1K
$14.9K₹1.4M
43.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K฿757.7K
$23.1K₹2.2M
-2.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Dombivli
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.7฿2,376
$39.12₹3,773
80.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.04฿472
$3.78₹364
271.43%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.49฿588
$9.19₹887
90.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Dombivli
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.15฿1,417
$9.56₹922
340.90%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88฿231
$2.92₹282
135.62%
Cinema Ticket
$5.92฿199
$4.05₹391
46.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Dombivli
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$309฿10.4K
$96.7₹9,328
218.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.9K฿500.4K
$1,443₹139.1K
931.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Dombivli
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8฿1,875
$22.44₹2,164
148.48%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.11฿878
$18.49₹1,783
41.21%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.0฿2,792
$50.8₹4,896
63.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.5฿2,369
$34.03₹3,282
107.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Dombivli
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$432฿14.5K
$198₹19.1K
118.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$239฿8,035
$126₹12.2K
88.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$822฿27.7K
$390₹37.6K
111.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$512฿17.2K
$183₹17.6K
180.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,915฿64.4K
$1,520₹146.6K
25.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,467฿49.3K
$514₹49.5K
185.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Dombivli
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$579฿19.5K
$443₹42.8K
30.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
9.27
-46.06%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026
Last update for Dombivli: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $198 in Dombivli. 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 31% 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $17.00 in Dombivli. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $118 – making Dombivli 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 Dombivli: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Dombivli?
Chiang Mai costs about 88% more than Dombivli, 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 Dombivli?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $688 in Dombivli. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Dombivli?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Dombivli, 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 Dombivli?
Kindergarten costs $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $96.7 in Dombivli. 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 Dombivli?
Groceries cost about 107% 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 Dombivli?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $861 in Chiang Mai and $458 in Dombivli, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Dombivli?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Dombivli costs $458 versus $861 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 Dombivli?
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 Dombivli?
If budget matters most, go with Dombivli. 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