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

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $170 per month in Derna vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $333 per month in Derna vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $497 per month in Derna vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Derna is about 80% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Derna and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Derna 87% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.52 LYD 28.67

$1.96 ฿64.0

130.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$9.32 LYD 59.1

$18.81 ฿615

-50.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.59 LYD 22.74

$7.92 ฿259

-54.67%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.53 LYD 3.34

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 LYD 4.81

Cappuccino

$0.56 LYD 3.58

$1.91 ฿62.6

-70.68%

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

$0.36 LYD 2.27

$0.84 ฿27.41

-57.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

Milk (1 liter)

$0.69 LYD 4.40

$1.64 ฿53.5

-57.93%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

Eggs

$0.74 LYD 4.71

$2.01 ฿65.8

-63.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

Banana (1kg)

$0.89 LYD 5.66

$1.22 ฿39.88

-27.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.95 LYD 6.04

$1.35 ฿44.20

-29.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

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

$13.77 ฿450

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.21 LYD 103

$17.60 ฿575

-7.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

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

$306 ฿10.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.47 LYD 231

$54.4 ฿1,778

-32.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.49 LYD 295

$26.14 ฿855

77.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$46.18 LYD 293

$84.5 ฿2,764

-45.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.55 LYD 295

$69.4 ฿2,270

-32.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$182 LYD 1,151

$825 ฿27.0K

-77.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$111 LYD 703

$515 ฿16.8K

-78.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$200 LYD 1,269

$2,049 ฿67.0K

-90.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$79.4 LYD 503

$1,523 ฿49.8K

-94.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$172 LYD 1,088

$635 ฿20.8K

-72.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Derna: April 28, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 270% higher in Chiang Mai, 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 $9.00 in Derna versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $15.00 vs $243 – making Derna 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

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

Chiang Mai costs about 402% more than Derna, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $254 per month in Derna and $1,278 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $170 in Derna and $852 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 1493% 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.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $170 in Derna and $852 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Derna costs $170 versus $852 in Chiang Mai. 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 Derna. 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.