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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,053 in Durres, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,608 in Durres, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,163 in Durres, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 19% cheaper than Durres, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Durres are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Durres 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$9.39 ALL 767

-79.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$35.05 ALL 2,862

-46.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$7.18 ALL 586

10.31%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$1.92 ALL 157

-0.52%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$1.62 ALL 132

-48.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.84 ALL 68.3

-58.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$2.34 ALL 191

-5.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$3.36 ALL 275

13.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$2.02 ALL 165

-18.81%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$0.86 ALL 70.6

88.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$1.93 ALL 158

-38.86%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$2.94 ALL 240

-31.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$10.42 ALL 851

52.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$7.78 ALL 635

-61.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$13.18 ALL 1,076

-18.29%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$1.19 ALL 97.5

119.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$2.34 ALL 191

-47.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$1.30 ALL 106

30.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$1.14 ALL 93.5

38.60%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$1.11 ALL 90.4

18.92%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$0.99 ALL 80.5

18.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$1.13 ALL 92.6

-40.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.62 ALL 50.7

-9.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$3.99 ALL 326

13.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$11.27 ALL 920

61.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$1.68 ALL 137

8.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.75 ALL 143

84.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$0.45 ALL 36.74

97.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

$18.03 ALL 1,472

7.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$3.57 ALL 292

-62.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$2.13 ALL 174

-36.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$17.76 ALL 1,450

-53.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$2.21 ALL 180

-42.53%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$15.4K ALL 1.3M

37.37%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$25.7K ALL 2.1M

-12.66%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$66.3 ALL 5,414

5.79%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$17.73 ALL 1,447

-22.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$16.07 ALL 1,312

9.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$37.33 ALL 3,048

11.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

$60.1 ALL 4,903

-89.01%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$7.26 ALL 593

-20.39%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$180 ALL 14.7K

69.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$4,417 ALL 360.6K

235.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$38.32 ALL 3,128

41.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$39.82 ALL 3,251

-34.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$84.0 ALL 6,856

0.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$153 ALL 12.5K

-54.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$426 ALL 34.8K

-0.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$316 ALL 25.8K

-24.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$598 ALL 48.9K

37.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$422 ALL 34.5K

21.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

$1,824 ALL 149.0K

12.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

$1,142 ALL 93.2K

33.34%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

$844 ALL 68.9K

-24.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

-6.19%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Last update for Durres: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $426 in Durres. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 33% higher in Durres, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $35.00 in Durres. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $241 in Durres – so Durres wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Durres: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Durres costs about 24% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,580 in Durres. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $306 per month in Chiang Mai and $180 in Durres. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 1% cheaper in Durres – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $852, than in Durres at $1,053. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Durres it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $1,053 in Durres. 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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Durres makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.