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 $1,119 per month in Dealu vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,738 per month in Dealu vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,357 per month in Dealu vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Dealu costs about 29% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Dealu and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Dealu 17% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.45 RON 51.8

$1.94 ฿63.5

490.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$57.5 RON 260

$18.64 ฿609

208.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.22 RON 37.16

$7.82 ฿255

5.12%

Cappuccino

$3.36 RON 15.20

$1.95 ฿63.8

72.31%

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

$2.35 RON 10.61

$0.85 ฿27.77

176.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 RON 10.06

$0.35 ฿11.58

537.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.18 RON 14.39

$2.13 ฿69.6

49.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 RON 17.19

$3.73 ฿122

1.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 RON 8.12

$1.71 ฿56.0

5.26%

White Bread (500g)

$1.34 RON 6.04

$1.63 ฿53.2

-17.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.86 RON 8.43

$1.14 ฿37.15

63.16%

Eggs

$3.33 RON 15.07

$1.93 ฿63.1

72.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.71 RON 43.88

$16.21 ฿530

-40.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.13 RON 32.22

$3.12 ฿102

128.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.09 RON 54.7

$10.90 ฿356

10.92%

Apples (1kg)

$1.25 RON 5.66

$2.75 ฿90.0

-54.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 RON 7.76

$1.21 ฿39.52

42.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.58 RON 7.14

$1.62 ฿53.0

-2.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.32 RON 10.50

$1.59 ฿51.8

45.91%

Potato (1kg)

$1.03 RON 4.64

$1.40 ฿45.70

-26.43%

Onion (1kg)

$0.90 RON 4.08

$1.17 ฿38.17

-23.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 RON 4.91

$0.66 ฿21.60

65.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.89 RON 4.04

$0.53 ฿17.22

67.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.25 RON 28.23

$4.69 ฿153

33.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.57 RON 29.69

$18.66 ฿609

-64.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.17 RON 5.28

$1.80 ฿58.8

-35.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 RON 9.00

$3.23 ฿106

-38.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.71 RON 3.22

$0.90 ฿29.26

-21.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.94 RON 90.1

$19.21 ฿628

3.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 RON 4.21

$1.41 ฿45.91

-34.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.72 RON 3.23

$1.29 ฿42.12

-44.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.26 RON 41.87

$7.84 ฿256

18.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.64 RON 7.42

$1.27 ฿41.58

29.13%

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

$27.5K RON 124.2K

$21.3K ฿694.9K

29.17%

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

$26.3K RON 119.1K

$22.2K ฿725.4K

18.58%

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

$155 RON 703

$69.1 ฿2,256

125.00%

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

$9.09 RON 41.07

$14.08 ฿460

-35.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.97 RON 45.09

$18.00 ฿588

-44.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.03 RON 185

$41.06 ฿1,341

-0.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.17 RON 86.7

$6.96 ฿227

175.43%

Cinema Ticket

$7.98 RON 36.06

$5.92 ฿193

34.80%

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

$483 RON 2,181

$299 ฿9,766

61.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.6K RON 47.8K

$15.0K ฿488.3K

-29.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.7 RON 311

$54.7 ฿1,787

25.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.00 RON 185

$26.77 ฿874

53.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.4 RON 391

$85.0 ฿2,776

1.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$99.9 RON 452

$70.6 ฿2,306

41.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$390 RON 1,762

$428 ฿14.0K

-8.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 RON 1,295

$237 ฿7,752

20.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$578 RON 2,611

$801 ฿26.2K

-27.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$434 RON 1,960

$515 ฿16.8K

-15.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,905 RON 8,611

$1,975 ฿64.5K

-3.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,584 RON 7,160

$1,475 ฿48.2K

7.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $390 in Dealu versus $428 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 $57.0 in Dealu versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $231 in Dealu vs $246 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 29% 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 $1,678 per month in Dealu and $1,300 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 $483 per month in Dealu and $299 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 7% 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 $866, than in Dealu at $1,119. 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 $866 versus $1,119 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.