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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $903 in Dupnica, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,433 in Dupnica, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,963 in Dupnica, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 3% more than Dupnica, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Dupnica are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Dupnica 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.3

$10.69 BGN 17.78

-80.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿653

$52.4 BGN 87.2

-62.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$9.44 BGN 15.70

-39.94%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.1

$2.39 BGN 3.98

-24.27%

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

$0.77 ฿25.58

$1.61 BGN 2.68

-52.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.49

$0.91 BGN 1.51

-61.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.7

$2.32 BGN 3.86

-4.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

$2.01 BGN 3.35

88.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.2

$1.79 BGN 2.97

14.53%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

$0.60 BGN 0.99

151.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.57

$1.09 BGN 1.82

28.44%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.2

$2.34 BGN 3.90

-3.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿539

$9.58 BGN 15.95

69.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.4

$6.50 BGN 10.82

-55.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$8.84 BGN 14.71

6.56%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.2

$1.18 BGN 1.97

127.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.28

$1.76 BGN 2.93

-38.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

$1.80 BGN 2.99

-10.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.61

$1.99 BGN 3.32

-26.63%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.54

$0.97 BGN 1.62

31.96%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.21

$0.80 BGN 1.34

32.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.88

$0.55 BGN 0.91

30.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.51

$0.52 BGN 0.86

1.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$3.79 BGN 6.30

11.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿609

$5.27 BGN 8.77

247.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.3

$0.77 BGN 1.28

111.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.6

$1.79 BGN 2.97

62.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.24

$0.57 BGN 0.96

54.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,790

$23.42 BGN 38.96

129.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.04

$1.39 BGN 2.31

-15.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.25

$0.63 BGN 1.05

-7.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.4

$11.63 BGN 19.35

-79.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.28

$1.65 BGN 2.74

-12.12%

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

$21.0K ฿699.5K

$30.6K BGN 50.9K

-31.29%

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

$26.4K ฿879.7K

$21.4K BGN 35.6K

23.49%

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

$63.7 ฿2,119

$97.4 BGN 162

-34.62%

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

$12.89 ฿429

$15.45 BGN 25.70

-16.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿683

$12.68 BGN 21.10

61.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,299

$31.29 BGN 52.1

24.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

$15.52 BGN 25.82

-74.74%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$4.65 BGN 7.74

41.51%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

$232 BGN 386

237.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿488.4K

$2,393 BGN 3,982

513.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,835

$31.72 BGN 52.8

73.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿824

$19.90 BGN 33.10

24.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,133

$67.2 BGN 112

40.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,462

$53.8 BGN 89.6

37.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

$327 BGN 544

49.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,594

$237 BGN 395

21.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.7K

$597 BGN 994

49.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

$458 BGN 762

13.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.7K

$1,539 BGN 2,561

28.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.1K

$1,013 BGN 1,686

42.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

$1,078 BGN 1,794

-44.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

2.99

86.29%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Dupnica: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $327 in Dupnica. 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 79% higher in Dupnica, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $52.0 in Dupnica. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $190 in Dupnica – so Dupnica 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 Dupnica: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 3% more than Dupnica, 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 $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,355 in Dupnica. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $232 in Dupnica. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 27% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Dupnica, where all-in costs run around $903, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Dupnica 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. Dupnica costs $903 versus $932 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 Dupnica. 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.