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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $392 in Durg, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $622 in Durg, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $853 in Durg, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 138% more than Durg, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Durg are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Durg 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.4

$2.27 ₹218

-8.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿654

$10.43 ₹1,000

88.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$3.46 ₹332

63.87%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.2

$1.52 ₹146

19.08%

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

$0.77 ฿25.60

$0.41 ₹38.96

87.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.50

$0.14 ₹13.38

150.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.8

$1.72 ₹165

28.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

$3.00 ₹288

26.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.2

$0.67 ₹64.0

205.97%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.5

$0.48 ₹46.34

214.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.61

$0.70 ₹67.6

100.00%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.2

$0.95 ₹91.4

137.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

$4.91 ₹470

229.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.5

$3.04 ₹291

-4.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.2

$1.97 ₹188

36.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.31

$0.70 ₹66.8

55.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.9

$0.93 ₹89.5

74.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.66

$0.53 ₹50.9

175.47%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.57

$0.38 ₹36.53

236.84%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.25

$0.46 ₹44.08

130.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.90

$0.48 ₹46.05

50.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.53

$0.31 ₹30.11

70.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$4.02 ₹386

5.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿610

$7.44 ₹714

145.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.3

$1.78 ₹171

-8.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.7

$2.87 ₹275

1.05%

Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)

$5.45 ₹522

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.26

$0.28 ₹26.62

214.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,791

$8.48 ₹812

534.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.07

$0.85 ₹81.4

37.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.26

$0.25 ₹23.68

132.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.5

$1.48 ₹142

61.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.32

$1.18 ₹113

22.88%

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

$21.0K ฿700.1K

$14.2K ₹1.4M

47.81%

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

$26.4K ฿880.5K

$21.8K ₹2.1M

20.98%

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

$63.7 ฿2,121

$38.80 ₹3,720

64.05%

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

$12.89 ฿430

$3.47 ₹333

271.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿684

$7.10 ₹680

189.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,300

$15.69 ₹1,504

148.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

$7.12 ₹682

-44.94%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$2.98 ₹286

120.81%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

$51.4 ₹4,927

1425.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿488.9K

$1,539 ₹147.5K

853.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,836

$24.26 ₹2,326

127.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿824

$25.10 ₹2,407

-1.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,136

$42.95 ₹4,117

119.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,464

$30.96 ₹2,968

138.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

$122 ₹11.7K

301.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,602

$75.0 ₹7,193

284.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.7K

$270 ₹25.9K

230.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

$179 ₹17.2K

190.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.8K

$1,049 ₹100.6K

88.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.1K

$597 ₹57.3K

141.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

8.67

-35.76%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Durg: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $10.00 in Durg. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $106 – 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

Chiang Mai costs about 138% 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $588 in Durg. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Kindergarten costs $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $51.4 in Durg. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 128% 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 Durg, where all-in costs run around $392, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Durg 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. Durg costs $392 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 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.