ðA single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $389 in Durg, rent included.
ðA couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $622 in Durg, rent included.
ðA family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $854 in Durg, rent included.
ðChiang Mai costs about 119% more than Durg, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
ðBoth Chiang Mai and Durg are more affordable than the global median â Chiang Mai36% lower, Durg71% lower.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Durg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96āļŋ64.0
$2.29âđ218
-14.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.81āļŋ615
$10.40âđ987
80.87%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.92āļŋ259
$3.63âđ345
118.18%
Cappuccino
$1.91āļŋ62.6
$1.52âđ145
25.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84āļŋ27.41
$0.40âđ38.35
110.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35āļŋ11.51
$0.17âđ15.96
105.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.21āļŋ72.1
$1.72âđ164
28.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80āļŋ124
$3.06âđ291
24.18%
ð Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Durg
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.64āļŋ53.5
$0.65âđ61.8
152.31%
White Bread(500g)
$1.62āļŋ53.1
$0.48âđ45.74
237.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.18āļŋ38.62
$0.71âđ67.7
66.20%
Eggs
$2.01āļŋ65.8
$0.97âđ91.6
107.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.89āļŋ520
$5.15âđ489
208.54%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.01āļŋ98.5
$2.90âđ275
3.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.77āļŋ352
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.61āļŋ85.5
$2.00âđ190
30.50%
Banana(1kg)
$1.22āļŋ39.88
$0.69âđ65.9
76.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.70āļŋ55.7
$1.00âđ95.1
70.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.58āļŋ51.5
$0.50âđ47.78
216.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.32āļŋ43.14
$0.36âđ33.95
266.67%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17āļŋ38.23
$0.42âđ40.25
178.57%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.67āļŋ21.98
$0.49âđ46.73
36.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56āļŋ18.32
$0.34âđ32.56
64.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.53āļŋ148
$3.93âđ373
15.27%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.20āļŋ595
$7.55âđ717
141.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83āļŋ60.0
$1.72âđ164
6.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23āļŋ106
$2.82âđ267
14.54%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$5.39âđ512
-
ð Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Durg
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.89āļŋ29.00
$0.28âđ26.50
217.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.38āļŋ634
$8.79âđ834
120.48%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.35āļŋ44.20
$0.78âđ74.1
73.08%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.35āļŋ44.05
$0.27âđ25.68
400.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.25āļŋ270
$1.44âđ137
472.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27āļŋ41.64
$1.16âđ110
9.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2Kāļŋ691.8K
$14.1Kâđ1.3M
49.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5Kāļŋ735.3K
$22.4Kâđ2.1M
0.57%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Durg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.2āļŋ2,294
$39.35âđ3,736
78.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77āļŋ450
$3.44âđ326
300.29%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.60āļŋ575
$7.37âđ700
138.81%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Durg
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.57āļŋ1,360
$16.10âđ1,528
158.20%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.60āļŋ216
$6.86âđ651
-3.79%
Cinema Ticket
$5.78āļŋ189
$2.95âđ280
95.93%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Durg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306āļŋ10.0K
$50.9âđ4,831
501.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8Kāļŋ484.8K
$1,550âđ147.2K
856.39%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Durg
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.4āļŋ1,778
$24.33âđ2,310
123.47%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.14āļŋ855
$25.52âđ2,423
2.43%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.5āļŋ2,764
$43.14âđ4,096
95.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.4āļŋ2,270
$30.28âđ2,875
129.29%
ð Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Durg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$424āļŋ13.9K
$126âđ11.9K
236.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$238āļŋ7,788
$77.1âđ7,319
208.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$825āļŋ27.0K
$278âđ26.4K
196.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$515āļŋ16.8K
$183âđ17.4K
181.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,049āļŋ67.0K
$1,066âđ101.2K
92.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,523āļŋ49.8K
$597âđ56.7K
154.99%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Durg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$635āļŋ20.8K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
8.67
-42.33%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026
Last update for Durg: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A central one-bedroom costs $424 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.
ðA mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $10.00 in Durg. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $106 â 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 vs Durg?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $584 in Durg. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled â 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 $306 per month in Chiang Mai and $50.9 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 129% 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 â 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 â 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.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared