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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,974 in Dubendorf, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $5,958 in Dubendorf, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $7,942 in Dubendorf, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 78% cheaper than Dubendorf, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Chiang Mai sits 35% below the global median, while Dubendorf is 197% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$30.79 CHF 24.27

-93.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$150 CHF 119

-87.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$18.42 CHF 14.52

-57.55%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$6.38 CHF 5.03

-69.44%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$5.85 CHF 4.61

-85.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$5.40 CHF 4.25

-93.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$7.41 CHF 5.85

-71.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$6.99 CHF 5.51

-46.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$2.15 CHF 1.69

-20.47%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$3.26 CHF 2.57

-50.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$4.08 CHF 3.22

-72.06%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$7.26 CHF 5.72

-73.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$29.29 CHF 23.09

-44.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$31.91 CHF 25.16

-90.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$49.09 CHF 38.70

-77.80%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$3.18 CHF 2.50

-13.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$2.81 CHF 2.21

-56.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$3.09 CHF 2.43

-47.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$7.09 CHF 5.59

-77.57%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$2.78 CHF 2.19

-49.64%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$2.27 CHF 1.79

-48.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$2.55 CHF 2.01

-74.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$1.73 CHF 1.37

-69.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$11.01 CHF 8.68

-57.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$15.50 CHF 12.22

20.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$2.24 CHF 1.76

-19.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.95 CHF 2.32

9.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$7.71 CHF 6.08

-88.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$123 CHF 97.1

-84.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$6.87 CHF 5.42

-79.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$4.25 CHF 3.35

-69.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$79.7 CHF 62.9

-90.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$2.31 CHF 1.82

-45.02%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$39.6K CHF 31.2K

-46.29%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$40.2K CHF 31.7K

-44.72%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$260 CHF 205

-73.48%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$35.53 CHF 28.02

-60.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$52.7 CHF 41.56

-65.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$87.4 CHF 68.9

-53.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$55.8 CHF 43.96

-87.52%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$25.12 CHF 19.80

-76.43%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$2,686 CHF 2,118

-88.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$39.6K CHF 31.3K

-62.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$147 CHF 116

-62.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$64.5 CHF 50.8

-58.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$147 CHF 116

-42.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$202 CHF 159

-65.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$1,855 CHF 1,462

-76.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$1,860 CHF 1,467

-87.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$2,681 CHF 2,114

-70.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$2,917 CHF 2,299

-82.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$14.0K CHF 11.1K

-85.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$10.0K CHF 7,885

-85.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$4,069 CHF 3,208

-84.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.5

100.00%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Dubendorf: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $1,855 in Dubendorf. 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 559% higher in Dubendorf, 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $150 in Dubendorf. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $667 – making Chiang Mai 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 Dubendorf: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Dubendorf costs about 359% more than Chiang Mai, 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $5,961 in Dubendorf. 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.

Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,686 in Dubendorf. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 171% more in Dubendorf, 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 Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Dubendorf at $3,974. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Dubendorf it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $3,974 in Dubendorf. 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, Dubendorf makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.