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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,127 per month in Dealu vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,723 per month in Dealu vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,319 per month in Dealu vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Dealu costs about 31% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Dealu and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Dealu 16% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.63 RON 53.3

$1.96 ฿65.9

493.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.3 RON 267

$18.35 ฿617

217.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.15 RON 37.39

$7.48 ฿252

8.96%

Cappuccino

$3.41 RON 15.66

$2.02 ฿67.8

68.81%

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

$2.31 RON 10.59

$0.85 ฿28.52

171.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 RON 10.24

$0.36 ฿11.97

519.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.25 RON 14.89

$2.14 ฿71.9

51.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.02 RON 18.43

$3.59 ฿121

11.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 RON 8.22

$1.65 ฿55.5

8.48%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 RON 5.91

$1.57 ฿52.7

-17.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.88 RON 8.63

$1.19 ฿40.05

57.98%

Eggs

$3.22 RON 14.76

$1.94 ฿65.1

65.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.93 RON 45.52

$16.19 ฿545

-38.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.25 RON 33.25

$2.99 ฿101

142.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.04 RON 55.2

$10.94 ฿368

10.05%

Apples (1kg)

$1.20 RON 5.50

$2.71 ฿91.2

-55.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 RON 8.13

$1.17 ฿39.27

51.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 RON 7.55

$1.69 ฿56.8

-2.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.39 RON 10.97

$1.60 ฿54.0

49.38%

Potato (1kg)

$0.94 RON 4.33

$1.38 ฿46.56

-31.88%

Onion (1kg)

$0.93 RON 4.26

$1.20 ฿40.47

-22.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 RON 4.79

$0.67 ฿22.51

56.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 RON 4.11

$0.56 ฿18.74

60.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.58 RON 30.16

$4.64 ฿156

41.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.37 RON 29.24

$17.62 ฿593

-63.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.11 RON 5.11

$1.86 ฿62.6

-40.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 RON 9.34

$3.30 ฿111

-38.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 RON 3.29

$0.88 ฿29.70

-18.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.49 RON 89.4

$19.34 ฿651

0.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.01 RON 4.64

$1.36 ฿45.92

-25.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.70 RON 3.22

$1.34 ฿45.00

-47.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.47 RON 43.42

$8.21 ฿276

15.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.65 RON 7.59

$1.22 ฿41.20

35.25%

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

$28.4K RON 130.4K

$21.4K ฿718.5K

33.17%

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

$26.7K RON 122.6K

$22.5K ฿758.1K

18.68%

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

$159 RON 730

$70.7 ฿2,378

125.37%

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

$9.06 RON 41.54

$14.04 ฿472

-35.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.03 RON 46.01

$17.49 ฿589

-42.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.06 RON 193

$42.15 ฿1,418

-0.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.16 RON 87.9

$6.88 ฿231

178.49%

Cinema Ticket

$7.99 RON 36.64

$5.92 ฿199

34.97%

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

$480 RON 2,201

$309 ฿10.4K

55.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.9K RON 49.8K

$14.9K ฿500.7K

-27.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.6 RON 324

$55.8 ฿1,876

26.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.02 RON 184

$26.11 ฿879

53.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.9 RON 394

$83.0 ฿2,793

3.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$100.0 RON 459

$70.5 ฿2,371

41.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$384 RON 1,760

$432 ฿14.5K

-11.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$286 RON 1,311

$239 ฿8,040

19.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$594 RON 2,722

$822 ฿27.7K

-27.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$438 RON 2,007

$512 ฿17.2K

-14.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,843 RON 8,450

$1,915 ฿64.4K

-3.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,602 RON 7,346

$1,467 ฿49.4K

9.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.85

17.00%

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

Last update for Dealu: July 12, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $384 in Dealu versus $432 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $58.0 in Dealu versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $231 in Dealu vs $243 in Chiang Mai – so Dealu 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

Dealu vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Dealu costs about 31% 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 $1,690 per month in Dealu and $1,292 in Chiang Mai. 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 $480 per month in Dealu and $309 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 6% cheaper in Dealu – 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 $861, than in Dealu at $1,127. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Dealu it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $861 versus $1,127 in Dealu. 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, Dealu makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.