😐A single person spends $2,312 per month in Dededo vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,731 per month in Dededo vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,149 per month in Dededo vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Dededo costs about 167% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Dededo sits 73% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dededo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
-
$1.94฿63.8
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$18.64฿611
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
-
$7.82฿256
-
Cappuccino
-
$1.95฿64.1
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.85฿27.90
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.35฿11.64
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.13฿69.9
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.73฿122
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dededo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$3.25$3.25
$1.71฿56.2
90.06%
White Bread(500g)
-
$1.63฿53.4
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
-
$1.14฿37.32
-
Eggs
$3.37$3.37
$1.93฿63.4
74.61%
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$16.21฿532
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
-
$3.12฿102
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$10.90฿357
-
Apples(1kg)
-
$2.75฿90.4
-
Banana(1kg)
$3.45$3.45
$1.21฿39.70
185.12%
Oranges(1kg)
-
$1.62฿53.2
-
Tomato(1kg)
$4.27$4.27
$1.59฿52.1
168.55%
Potato(1kg)
-
$1.40฿45.91
-
Onion(1kg)
-
$1.17฿38.34
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.90$1.90
$0.66฿21.70
187.88%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.53฿17.30
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.04$9.04
$4.69฿154
92.75%
Wine(Bottle)
$22.54$22.54
$18.66฿612
20.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.80฿59.0
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.23฿106
-
🚌 Getting Around
Dededo
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.90฿29.39
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$19.21฿630
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$1.41฿46.13
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$1.29฿42.31
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$7.84฿257
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.56$1.56
$1.27฿41.77
22.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$21.3K฿698.1K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$22.2K฿728.8K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dededo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$69.1฿2,266
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$14.08฿462
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$18.00฿591
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dededo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$189$189
$41.06฿1,347
361.01%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.79$16.79
$6.96฿228
141.24%
Cinema Ticket
$10.89$10.89
$5.92฿194
83.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dededo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$397$397
$299฿9,811
32.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$15.0K฿490.6K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dededo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$99.8$99.8
$54.7฿1,795
82.45%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$98.3$98.3
$26.77฿878
267.02%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$122$122
$85.0฿2,788
43.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121$121
$70.6฿2,316
71.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dededo
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,990$1,990
$428฿14.0K
364.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,827$1,827
$237฿7,787
669.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,218$3,218
$801฿26.3K
301.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,008$2,008
$515฿16.9K
289.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,975฿64.8K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,475฿48.4K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dededo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,787$3,787
$617฿20.3K
513.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
5
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Dededo: May 31, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,990 in Dededo 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.
💰Salaries run about 513% higher in Dededo, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
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
Which city is more expensive, Dededo or Chiang Mai?
Dededo costs about 167% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Dededo vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,468 per month in Dededo and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Dededo or Chiang Mai?
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.
How much does it cost to live in Dededo compared to Chiang Mai?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,312 in Dededo and $866 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Are groceries more expensive in Dededo or Chiang Mai?
Interestingly, groceries are about 75% cheaper in Dededo – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Dededo or Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Dededo at $2,312. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Dededo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Dededo or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $2,312 in Dededo. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Dededo 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 – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Dededo or Chiang Mai?
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.