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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,373 per month in Dededo vs $845 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,760 per month in Dededo vs $1,323 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,147 per month in Dededo vs $1,802 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Dededo costs about 181% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Dededo sits 77% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 37% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.95 ฿62.8

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.43 ฿594

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.50 ฿241

Cappuccino

$1.93 ฿62.3

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

$0.78 ฿25.08

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.42

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.15 ฿69.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 ฿120

Milk (1 liter)

$3.27 $3.27

$1.71 ฿55.2

91.23%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 ฿50.3

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.06

Eggs

$3.47 $3.47

$1.98 ฿63.9

75.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.04 ฿517

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ฿102

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿353

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿84.7

Banana (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$1.17 ฿37.61

193.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 ฿53.0

Tomato (1kg)

$4.35 $4.35

$1.54 ฿49.51

182.47%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿44.34

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿37.54

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.88 $1.88

$0.66 ฿21.25

184.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.55

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.19 $9.19

$4.52 ฿146

103.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.68 $22.68

$18.32 ฿590

23.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿57.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ฿102

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿28.97

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.00 ฿612

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.50

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.31 ฿42.15

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.09 ฿261

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.60 $1.60

$1.28 ฿41.08

25.00%

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

$21.3K ฿686.1K

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

$21.7K ฿699.3K

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

$69.2 ฿2,230

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

$13.97 ฿450

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.95 ฿578

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$187 $187

$42.31 ฿1,363

342.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.52 $16.52

$6.66 ฿214

148.05%

Cinema Ticket

$11.16 $11.16

$5.92 ฿191

88.51%

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

$401 $401

$299 ฿9,640

33.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿478.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$102 $102

$56.2 ฿1,810

81.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$99.5 $99.5

$26.94 ฿868

269.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$84.9 ฿2,735

40.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 $121

$71.8 ฿2,314

68.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,031 $2,031

$435 ฿14.0K

366.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,781 $1,781

$240 ฿7,727

642.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,181 $3,181

$798 ฿25.7K

298.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,013 $2,013

$498 ฿16.1K

303.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,995 ฿64.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,532 ฿49.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,768 $3,768

$628 ฿20.2K

499.73%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Dededo: April 21, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,031 in Dededo versus $435 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.

Salaries run about 500% higher in Dededo, 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 $0 in Dededo versus $18 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $142 vs $244 – making Dededo 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

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

Dededo costs about 181% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,560 per month in Dededo and $1,267 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,373 in Dededo and $845 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 72% cheaper in Dededo – 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 $845, than in Dededo at $2,373. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Dededo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $845 versus $2,373 in Dededo. 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, Dededo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.