๐A single person spends $392 per month in Dadeldhurฤ vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
๐A couple spends around $654 per month in Dadeldhurฤ vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
๐A family of three spends $916 per month in Dadeldhurฤ vs $1,855 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
๐Dadeldhurฤ is about 55% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐Both Dadeldhurฤ and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median โ Dadeldhurฤ71% lower, Chiang Mai35% lower.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Dadeldhurฤ
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.87NPRย 285
$1.98เธฟ64.3
-5.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.80NPRย 2,861
$18.80เธฟ612
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.41NPRย 975
$7.75เธฟ252
-17.29%
Cappuccino
$1.50NPRย 229
$1.92เธฟ62.5
-21.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50NPRย 75.6
$0.79เธฟ25.79
-36.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.16NPRย 24.53
$0.36เธฟ11.62
-55.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.53NPRย 385
$2.21เธฟ72.1
14.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.62NPRย 552
$3.66เธฟ119
-1.09%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Dadeldhurฤ
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.79NPRย 121
$1.65เธฟ53.8
-52.12%
White Bread(500g)
$0.55NPRย 83.8
$1.63เธฟ53.2
-66.26%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.76NPRย 116
$1.19เธฟ38.86
-36.13%
Eggs
$1.68NPRย 255
$2.00เธฟ65.1
-16.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.48NPRย 1,138
$15.98เธฟ520
-53.19%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.20NPRย 486
$3.03เธฟ98.5
5.61%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.26NPRย 952
$10.86เธฟ354
-42.36%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29NPRย 349
$2.76เธฟ90.0
-17.03%
Banana(1kg)
$1.10NPRย 167
$1.18เธฟ38.42
-6.78%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.25NPRย 190
$1.64เธฟ53.5
-23.78%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.68NPRย 104
$1.52เธฟ49.51
-55.26%
Potato(1kg)
$0.49NPRย 74.1
$1.38เธฟ45.10
-64.49%
Onion(1kg)
$0.69NPRย 104
$1.19เธฟ38.84
-42.02%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.49NPRย 74.4
$0.70เธฟ22.86
-30.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.27NPRย 41.37
$0.56เธฟ18.13
-51.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.95NPRย 449
$4.58เธฟ149
-35.59%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$16.56เธฟ539
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.25NPRย 343
$1.83เธฟ59.5
22.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26NPRย 497
$3.20เธฟ104
1.87%
๐ Getting Around
Dadeldhurฤ
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.17NPRย 26.23
$0.88เธฟ28.56
-80.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$18.72เธฟ610
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.14NPRย 325
$1.36เธฟ44.16
57.35%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81NPRย 123
$1.34เธฟ43.65
-39.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.59NPRย 546
$7.84เธฟ256
-54.21%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26NPRย 192
$1.23เธฟ39.92
2.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.2KNPRย 4.9M
$21.6Kเธฟ704.3K
48.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.2KNPRย 6.1M
$22.5Kเธฟ734.3K
78.45%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dadeldhurฤ
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$26.84NPRย 4,084
$70.5เธฟ2,298
-61.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.86NPRย 739
$13.68เธฟ445
-64.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.74NPRย 1,482
$17.45เธฟ568
-44.18%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Dadeldhurฤ
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$18.24NPRย 2,776
$41.33เธฟ1,346
-55.87%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.96เธฟ227
-
Cinema Ticket
$2.77NPRย 422
$5.77เธฟ188
-51.99%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Dadeldhurฤ
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$71.3NPRย 10.8K
$307เธฟ10.0K
-76.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,693NPRย 409.8K
$14.6Kเธฟ475.9K
-81.57%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Dadeldhurฤ
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.12NPRย 3,823
$55.8เธฟ1,817
-54.97%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.45NPRย 4,177
$26.21เธฟ854
4.73%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$44.94NPRย 6,838
$85.8เธฟ2,793
-47.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$28.53NPRย 4,341
$72.2เธฟ2,353
-60.51%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Dadeldhurฤ
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$105NPRย 16.0K
$430เธฟ14.0K
-75.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$63.0NPRย 9,584
$239เธฟ7,774
-73.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$207NPRย 31.6K
$817เธฟ26.6K
-74.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$146NPRย 22.2K
$511เธฟ16.6K
-71.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,983เธฟ64.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,484เธฟ48.3K
-
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Dadeldhurฤ
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$97.0NPRย 14.8K
$619เธฟ20.2K
-84.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.08
5
141.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Dadeldhurฤ: June 8, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A central one-bedroom costs $105 in Dadeldhurฤ versus $430 in Chiang Mai. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
๐ฐSalaries run about 538% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
๐A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Dadeldhurฤ versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $133 vs $241 โ making Dadeldhurฤ 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
Dadeldhurฤ vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Dadeldhurฤ or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 122% more than Dadeldhurฤ, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 Dadeldhurฤ vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $587 per month in Dadeldhurฤ and $1,303 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Dadeldhurฤ or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Dadeldhurฤ, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Dadeldhurฤ vs Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Dadeldhurฤ and $19.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and cafรฉ pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Dadeldhurฤ or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 82% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $800/month in Dadeldhurฤ or Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably โ all-in costs are $392 in Dadeldhurฤ and $869 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Dadeldhurฤ or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Dadeldhurฤ costs $392 versus $869 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Dadeldhurฤ compared to Chiang Mai?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison โ central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Dadeldhurฤ or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Dadeldhurฤ. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Dadeldhurฤ vs other spots: cost of living compared