😐A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $389 in Durg, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $614 in Durg, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $840 in Durg, rent included.
😐Chiang Mai costs about 119% more than Durg, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Durg are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai36% lower, Durg71% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Durg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.04฿68.2
$2.29₹218
-10.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.71฿624
$10.52₹1,003
77.85%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.86฿262
$3.45₹329
127.83%
Cappuccino
$2.03฿67.7
$1.53₹146
32.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80฿26.64
$0.38₹36.17
110.53%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35฿11.68
$0.15₹14.46
133.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.14฿71.5
$1.75₹167
22.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.67฿122
$3.06₹292
19.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Durg
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.73฿57.6
$0.69₹66.1
150.72%
White Bread(500g)
$1.57฿52.4
$0.49₹46.88
220.41%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.20฿39.99
$0.70₹67.0
71.43%
Eggs
$1.97฿65.8
$0.96₹91.7
105.21%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.23฿541
$4.99₹475
225.25%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.06฿102
$2.91₹278
5.15%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.80฿360
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.77฿92.3
$1.97₹188
40.61%
Banana(1kg)
$1.17฿38.94
$0.73₹69.7
60.27%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.71฿57.0
$0.93₹88.3
83.87%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.59฿53.2
$0.50₹47.31
218.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.39฿46.51
$0.36₹34.21
286.11%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16฿38.56
$0.45₹43.27
157.78%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.66฿22.05
$0.49₹47.00
34.69%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52฿17.31
$0.32₹30.46
62.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.65฿155
$4.02₹383
15.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.78฿593
$7.19₹686
147.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79฿59.6
$1.78₹170
0.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.34฿111
$2.86₹273
16.78%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$5.46₹521
-
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Durg
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.91฿30.27
$0.30₹28.75
203.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.64฿622
$8.57₹817
117.50%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41฿47.04
$0.77₹73.6
83.12%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.34฿44.70
$0.25₹23.82
436.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.11฿270
$1.41₹135
475.18%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.23฿41.16
$1.21₹116
1.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K฿715.1K
$14.1K₹1.3M
52.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K฿728.0K
$21.9K₹2.1M
-0.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Durg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$71.3฿2,379
$39.33₹3,751
81.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.01฿467
$3.44₹328
307.27%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.93฿598
$7.11₹678
152.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Durg
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.82฿1,362
$15.86₹1,513
157.38%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88฿230
$6.82₹651
0.88%
Cinema Ticket
$5.72฿191
$2.89₹276
97.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Durg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$308฿10.3K
$50.6₹4,826
509.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.7K฿489.7K
$1,537₹146.6K
854.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Durg
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8฿1,860
$24.04₹2,293
131.99%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.04฿869
$24.74₹2,359
5.25%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.8฿2,829
$42.03₹4,009
101.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.0฿2,368
$30.09₹2,870
135.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Durg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$423฿14.1K
$122₹11.6K
247.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$242฿8,088
$77.1₹7,356
214.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$797฿26.6K
$279₹26.6K
185.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$507฿16.9K
$178₹17.0K
184.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,918฿64.0K
$1,048₹99.9K
83.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,464฿48.8K
$605₹57.7K
142.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Durg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$595฿19.9K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
8.67
-42.33%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026
Last update for Durg: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $122 in Durg. 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $11.00 in Durg. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 vs $105 – making Durg 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 Durg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Durg?
Chiang Mai costs about 119% more than Durg, 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 Durg?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $584 in Durg. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Durg?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Durg, 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 Durg?
Kindergarten costs $308 per month in Chiang Mai and $50.6 in Durg. 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 Durg?
Groceries cost about 132% 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 $1,200/month in Chiang Mai or in Durg?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $389 in Durg, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Durg?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Durg costs $389 versus $852 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 Durg?
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 Durg?
If budget matters most, go with Durg. 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