Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Durham, NC Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Durham, NC

🙂 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 50.7% cheaper than Durham, NC without rent, and 66.9% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 54.2% cheaper than Durham, NC without rent, and 61.7% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Durham, NC
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.02 ฿65.3
$15.14 $15.14
-86.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.78 ฿608
$70.9 $70.9
-73.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.67 ฿248
$9.95 $9.95
-22.91%
Cappuccino
$1.98 ฿64.2
$4.6 $4.6
-56.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ฿26.64
$2.15 $2.15
-61.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ฿10.58
$1.83 $1.83
-81.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.12 ฿68.6
$5.11 $5.11
-58.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿121
$6.53 $6.53
-42.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Durham, NC
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ฿53.2
$0.86 $0.86
90.70%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ฿50.9
$3.8 $3.8
-58.68%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿38.62
$3.68 $3.68
-67.66%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿64.1
$4.41 $4.41
-55.10%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.99 ฿517
$9.23 $9.23
73.24%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 ฿101
$12.48 $12.48
-75.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.16 ฿361
$15.72 $15.72
-29.01%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 ฿89.2
$5.53 $5.53
-50.09%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿39.5
$1.18 $1.18
3.39%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ฿55.4
$3.74 $3.74
-54.28%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 ฿50.2
$3.43 $3.43
-54.81%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 ฿43.21
$2.57 $2.57
-47.86%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 ฿39.23
$2.81 $2.81
-56.94%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿23.2
$1.9 $1.9
-62.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.05
$1.92 $1.92
-72.40%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.72 ฿153
$10.15 $10.15
-53.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.39 ฿595
$15.17 $15.17
21.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ฿57.9
$1.75 $1.75
2.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ฿104
$4.22 $4.22
-23.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Durham, NC
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 ฿30.44
$1.99 $1.99
-52.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.9 ฿612
$25.24 $25.24
-25.12%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 ฿46.08
$2.02 $2.02
-29.70%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿43.53
$1.52 $1.52
-11.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 ฿254
$22.79 $22.79
-65.56%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 ฿40.4
$0.87 $0.87
43.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿684.9K
$28.5K $28.5K
-25.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿706.8K
$26.2K $26.2K
-16.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Durham, NC
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.6 ฿2,285
$162 $162
-56.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.72 ฿444
$53.6 $53.6
-74.41%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.56 ฿568
$75.3 $75.3
-76.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Durham, NC
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.64 ฿1,347
$40.25 $40.25
3.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.9 ฿223
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.8 ฿188
$12.15 $12.15
-52.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Durham, NC
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 ฿9,963
$1,288 $1,288
-76.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ฿475.8K
$31.2K $31.2K
-52.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Durham, NC
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4 ฿1,793
$52.2 $52.2
6.15%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.4 ฿854
$34.49 $34.49
-23.46%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.1 ฿2,755
$79.5 $79.5
7.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8 ฿2,323
$119 $119
-39.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Durham, NC
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$434 ฿14K
$1,875 $1,875
-76.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 ฿7,610
$1,425 $1,425
-83.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$821 ฿26.6K
$2,525 $2,525
-67.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ฿16.1K
$2,308 $2,308
-78.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,180 ฿70.6K
$2,823 $2,823
-22.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,543 ฿49.9K
$2,665 $2,665
-42.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Durham, NC
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$703 ฿22.8K
$4,429 $4,429
-84.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
6.54
-23.55%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

Last update for Durham, NC: October 27, 2025

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