Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Durg

For one person, living is cheaper in Durg: $385 a month against $935 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $6,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Chiang Mai, Thailand
Durg, India
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$935
/mo nomad
Durg
🇮🇳 India
$385
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Durg

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Durg actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $935 per month in Chiang Mai vs $385 in Durg, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $935
  • Durg $385

A couple spends around $1,467 per month in Chiang Mai vs $611 in Durg, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,467
  • Durg $611

A family of three spends $1,999 per month in Chiang Mai vs $836 in Durg, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,999
  • Durg $836

Chiang Mai costs about 143% more than Durg, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Durg are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Durg 71% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Durg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.13 ฿71.4
$2.26 ₹214
-5.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.62 ฿623
$10.40 ₹983
79.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.60 ฿187
$3.59 ₹339
55.99%
Cappuccino
$1.66 ฿55.6
$1.53 ₹145
8.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65 ฿21.63
$0.40 ₹38.25
62.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30 ฿10.20
$0.17 ₹16.53
76.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.32 ฿77.7
$1.72 ₹162
34.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.67 ฿123
$3.09 ₹292
18.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Durg
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.02 ฿67.4
$0.65 ₹61.6
210.77%
White Bread (500g)
$1.41 ฿47.08
$0.46 ₹43.11
206.52%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.39 ฿46.54
$0.66 ₹62.8
110.61%
Eggs
$2.37 ฿79.2
$0.90 ₹85.2
163.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.52 ฿552
$4.94 ₹467
234.41%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.67 ฿89.3
$3.03 ₹286
-11.88%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.02 ฿302
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.40 ฿80.2
$1.98 ₹188
21.21%
Banana (1kg)
$1.04 ฿34.82
$0.69 ₹65.1
50.72%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.66 ฿55.5
$0.99 ₹93.1
67.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.56 ฿52.1
$0.54 ₹51.4
188.89%
Potato (1kg)
$1.24 ฿41.39
$0.36 ₹33.68
244.44%
Onion (1kg)
$1.09 ฿36.34
$0.46 ₹43.50
136.96%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.76 ฿25.47
$0.48 ₹45.55
58.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿17.19
$0.32 ₹30.08
59.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.12 ฿138
$3.89 ₹367
5.91%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.93 ฿600
$7.25 ₹685
147.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 ฿54.3
$1.75 ₹166
-7.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82 ฿94.4
$2.82 ₹266
-
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$5.41 ₹511
-
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Durg
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.93 ฿31.25
$0.30 ₹28.69
210.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$52.9 ฿1,769
$8.49 ₹802
522.97%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.18 ฿39.35
$0.82 ₹77.7
43.90%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.17 ฿5.73
$0.27 ₹25.75
-37.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.81 ฿60.6
$1.42 ₹134
27.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ฿49.25
$1.20 ₹114
22.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K ฿702.6K
$13.7K ₹1.3M
53.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K ฿886.7K
$22.1K ₹2.1M
19.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Durg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.6 ฿2,092
$39.32 ₹3,715
59.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.60 ฿388
$3.40 ₹321
241.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.30 ฿679
$7.34 ₹693
176.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Durg
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.88 ฿1,267
$15.98 ₹1,509
137.05%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.70 ฿124
$6.89 ₹650
-46.30%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51 ฿218
$2.87 ₹271
126.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Durg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$727 ฿24.3K
$50.5 ₹4,767
1340.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.6K ฿554.2K
$1,557 ₹147.1K
964.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Durg
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.5 ฿1,790
$23.66 ₹2,235
126.29%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.80 ฿829
$25.29 ₹2,389
-1.94%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.4 ฿3,023
$43.48 ₹4,108
107.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.0 ฿2,407
$30.26 ₹2,859
137.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Durg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$481 ฿16.1K
$125 ₹11.8K
283.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$310 ฿10.4K
$77.5 ₹7,319
300.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,058 ฿35.4K
$272 ₹25.7K
289.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$659 ฿22.0K
$182 ₹17.2K
260.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,418 ฿80.8K
$1,040 ₹98.2K
132.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,609 ฿53.8K
$599 ₹56.6K
168.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Durg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$595 ฿19.9K
-
-
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: November 1, 2026

Last update for Durg: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$310
Durg
$77 75% $232
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$237
Durg
$105 55.8% $132
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$108
Durg
$55 49% $53
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$94
Durg
$50 47% $44
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$77
Durg
$64 15.9% $12
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$59
Durg
$12 79.7% $47
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$51
Durg
$22 57.3% $29

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $481 in Chiang Mai versus $125 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 in Chiang Mai versus $10 in Durg. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $237 vs $105 – making Durg the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇮🇳 Durg
🕒 Local time
17:28 5:28 PM
15:58 3:58 PM
1 h 30 min behind Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
100,000
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

INR, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 33.44 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.56 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Indian Rupee exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 94.47 INR (100 INR = 1.06 USD). 1 EUR = 106 INR (1,000 INR = 9.43 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Mai Durg 1,870 km ≈ 2 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • Durg

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 143% more than Durg, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. 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 $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $578 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $125 there versus $481 in Chiang Mai.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Durg?
Kindergarten costs $727 per month in Chiang Mai and $50 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 126% more in Chiang Mai, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $1,200/month in Chiang Mai or in Durg?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $935 in Chiang Mai and $385 in Durg, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Durg – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Durg?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
For expats, Durg is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 59% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

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