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 $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,179 in Durres, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,788 in Durres, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,396 in Durres, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 21% cheaper than Durres, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Durres are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Durres 14% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.2

$10.60 ALL 840

-80.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿652

$38.30 ALL 3,037

-48.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$10.50 ALL 833

-46.00%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.0

$2.08 ALL 165

-12.98%

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

$0.77 ฿25.55

$2.05 ALL 162

-62.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.48

$1.03 ALL 81.5

-66.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.6

$3.13 ALL 248

-29.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

$4.50 ALL 357

-15.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.1

$2.20 ALL 175

-6.82%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

$1.09 ALL 86.8

38.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.51

$2.38 ALL 189

-41.18%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.1

$3.97 ALL 315

-43.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿538

$12.95 ALL 1,027

25.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.3

$7.93 ALL 629

-63.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿313

$15.04 ALL 1,193

-37.37%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.1

$1.18 ALL 93.5

127.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.23

$2.45 ALL 194

-55.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

$1.59 ALL 126

1.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.55

$1.34 ALL 106

8.96%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.48

$0.87 ALL 69.2

47.13%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.17

$0.96 ALL 76.1

10.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.85

$1.27 ALL 101

-43.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.49

$0.72 ALL 57.0

-26.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$4.43 ALL 351

-4.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿608

$11.44 ALL 907

59.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.2

$1.52 ALL 120

7.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.5

$2.09 ALL 166

38.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.20

$0.52 ALL 41.43

69.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,788

$19.12 ALL 1,516

181.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿38.99

$3.79 ALL 300

-69.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.22

$2.55 ALL 202

-77.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.3

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.22

$2.26 ALL 179

-35.84%

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

$21.0K ฿698.6K

$16.1K ALL 1.3M

30.64%

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

$26.4K ฿878.6K

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

$63.7 ฿2,116

$98.0 ALL 7,773

-35.08%

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

$12.89 ฿429

$17.04 ALL 1,351

-24.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿682

$17.04 ALL 1,351

20.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,297

$41.99 ALL 3,329

-7.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

$61.9 ALL 4,907

-93.67%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$7.51 ALL 595

-12.38%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

$188 ALL 14.9K

317.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿487.9K

$4,691 ALL 372.0K

212.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,833

$39.91 ALL 3,164

38.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿823

$41.87 ALL 3,320

-40.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,130

$90.8 ALL 7,196

3.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,459

$166 ALL 13.1K

-55.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

$459 ALL 36.4K

6.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,582

$342 ALL 27.1K

-15.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.6K

$716 ALL 56.8K

24.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

$472 ALL 37.4K

10.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.6K

$1,835 ALL 145.5K

7.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.0K

$1,155 ALL 91.6K

25.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

$969 ALL 76.8K

-37.92%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

5.25

6.10%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Durres: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $459 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 61% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $38.00 in Durres. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $269 – making Chiang Mai 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 Durres: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Durres costs about 27% 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 $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,769 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 $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $188 in Durres. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 11% more in Durres, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $932, than in Durres at $1,179. 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 $932 versus $1,179 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.