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 $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $390 in Durg, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $615 in Durg, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $839 in Durg, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 123% more than Durg, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Durg are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Durg 71% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Durg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.98 ฿64.3
$2.35 ₹224
-15.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.80 ฿612
$10.54 ₹1,002
78.37%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.75 ฿252
$3.64 ₹346
112.91%
Cappuccino
$1.92 ฿62.5
$1.52 ₹144
26.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79 ฿25.79
$0.38 ₹36.00
107.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ฿11.62
$0.16 ₹15.08
125.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ฿72.1
$1.77 ₹169
24.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 ฿119
$3.09 ₹294
18.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Durg
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.65 ฿53.8
$0.67 ₹63.3
146.27%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 ฿53.2
$0.49 ₹46.48
232.65%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿38.86
$0.71 ₹67.2
67.61%
Eggs
$2.00 ฿65.1
$0.88 ₹84.1
127.27%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.98 ฿520
$5.09 ₹484
213.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.03 ฿98.5
$3.00 ₹285
1.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.86 ฿354
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 ฿90.0
$2.05 ₹195
34.63%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 ฿38.42
$0.74 ₹70.6
59.46%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.64 ฿53.5
$1.00 ₹95.2
64.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.52 ฿49.51
$0.53 ₹50.5
186.79%
Potato (1kg)
$1.38 ฿45.10
$0.36 ₹34.13
283.33%
Onion (1kg)
$1.19 ฿38.84
$0.42 ₹40.28
183.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.70 ฿22.86
$0.48 ₹45.77
45.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿18.13
$0.34 ₹32.57
64.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.58 ฿149
$3.84 ₹366
19.27%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.56 ฿539
$7.57 ₹720
118.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83 ฿59.5
$1.69 ₹161
8.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 ฿104
$2.81 ₹267
13.88%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$5.35 ₹509
-
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Durg
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 ฿28.56
$0.30 ₹28.86
193.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.72 ฿610
$8.49 ₹807
120.49%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ฿44.16
$0.85 ₹80.8
60.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.34 ฿43.65
$0.27 ₹25.79
396.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.84 ฿256
$1.48 ₹141
429.73%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 ฿39.92
$1.23 ₹117
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K ฿704.3K
$13.7K ₹1.3M
57.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K ฿734.3K
$21.8K ₹2.1M
3.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Durg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.5 ฿2,298
$38.78 ₹3,688
81.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.68 ฿445
$3.52 ₹335
288.64%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.45 ฿568
$7.11 ₹677
145.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Durg
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.33 ฿1,346
$16.16 ₹1,537
155.75%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.96 ฿227
$6.81 ₹648
2.20%
Cinema Ticket
$5.77 ฿188
$2.84 ₹270
103.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Durg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$307 ฿10.0K
$52.3 ₹4,970
487.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.6K ฿475.9K
$1,539 ₹146.3K
849.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Durg
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8 ฿1,817
$24.17 ₹2,299
130.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.21 ฿854
$25.33 ₹2,409
3.47%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.8 ฿2,793
$43.16 ₹4,105
98.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.2 ฿2,353
$30.66 ₹2,916
135.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Durg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$430 ฿14.0K
$126 ₹12.0K
241.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$239 ฿7,774
$75.6 ₹7,189
215.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$817 ฿26.6K
$273 ₹26.0K
199.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$511 ฿16.6K
$180 ₹17.1K
183.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,983 ฿64.6K
$1,071 ₹101.9K
85.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,484 ฿48.3K
$606 ₹57.6K
145.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Durg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$619 ฿20.2K
-
-
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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Durg: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $126 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: $241 vs $107 – 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 123% 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 vs Durg?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $585 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 Durg?
Kindergarten costs $307 per month in Chiang Mai and $52.3 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 Durg?
Groceries cost about 126% 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 Durg?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $869 in Chiang Mai and $390 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 $390 versus $869 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 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.

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