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 $848 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,036 in Durres, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,331 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,594 in Durres, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,814 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,151 in Durres, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 18% 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 22% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿63.6

$9.24 ALL 753

-78.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.39 ฿598

$34.65 ALL 2,824

-46.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.87 ฿256

$7.13 ALL 581

10.38%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.4

$1.86 ALL 151

4.84%

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

$0.85 ฿27.57

$1.63 ALL 133

-47.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.52

$0.85 ALL 69.1

-62.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿69.6

$2.39 ALL 195

-10.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 ฿120

$3.24 ALL 264

13.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ฿53.9

$2.02 ALL 165

-17.82%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 ฿50.7

$0.87 ALL 71.2

79.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.63

$1.97 ALL 161

-39.59%

Eggs

$1.99 ฿64.7

$2.92 ALL 238

-31.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.24 ฿528

$10.55 ALL 860

53.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ฿103

$7.73 ALL 630

-58.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.84 ฿352

$13.18 ALL 1,075

-17.75%

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 ฿86.2

$1.16 ALL 94.9

128.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.67

$2.35 ALL 192

-48.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 ฿53.7

$1.29 ALL 105

27.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 ฿50.3

$1.17 ALL 95.0

32.48%

Potato (1kg)

$1.33 ฿43.17

$1.13 ALL 92.2

17.70%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.43

$1.02 ALL 83.3

18.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ฿22.04

$1.13 ALL 92.2

-39.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ฿18.38

$0.62 ALL 50.8

-8.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.68 ฿152

$4.01 ALL 327

16.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.99 ฿552

$10.91 ALL 890

55.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 ฿59.3

$1.68 ALL 137

8.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ฿103

$1.77 ALL 144

79.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿29.46

$0.49 ALL 39.89

85.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.74 ฿609

$18.48 ALL 1,506

1.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.80

$3.47 ALL 282

-59.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.52

$2.15 ALL 175

-37.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.14 ฿265

$17.84 ALL 1,454

-54.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 ฿41.53

$2.16 ALL 176

-40.74%

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

$21.8K ฿709.3K

$15.1K ALL 1.2M

44.72%

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

$22.4K ฿728.0K

$25.6K ALL 2.1M

-12.47%

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

$70.5 ฿2,291

$66.1 ALL 5,384

6.69%

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

$14.05 ฿457

$17.65 ALL 1,438

-20.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.65 ฿574

$16.01 ALL 1,305

10.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.29 ฿1,342

$37.01 ALL 3,016

11.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.76 ฿220

$58.7 ALL 4,784

-88.48%

Cinema Ticket

$5.96 ฿194

$7.18 ALL 585

-16.99%

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

$303 ฿9,846

$177 ALL 14.5K

70.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿486.2K

$4,338 ALL 353.6K

244.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,778

$38.20 ALL 3,113

43.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.29 ฿854

$39.03 ALL 3,181

-32.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,788

$86.0 ALL 7,009

-0.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.7 ฿2,265

$153 ALL 12.4K

-54.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿13.9K

$416 ALL 33.9K

2.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,769

$313 ALL 25.5K

-23.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$811 ฿26.4K

$613 ALL 49.9K

32.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$510 ฿16.6K

$436 ALL 35.6K

16.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,025 ฿65.8K

$1,782 ALL 145.3K

13.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,502 ฿48.8K

$1,133 ALL 92.4K

32.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$623 ฿20.2K

$846 ALL 68.9K

-26.40%

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: June 13, 2026

Last update for Durres: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $416 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 36% 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $35.00 in Durres. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $240 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 22% 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 $1,272 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,554 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 $303 per month in Chiang Mai and $177 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 $848, than in Durres at $1,036. 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 $848 versus $1,036 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.