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 $175 per month in Derna vs $950 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $339 per month in Derna vs $1,430 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $503 per month in Derna vs $1,909 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Derna is about 82% 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 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.84 LYD 24.22

$2.10 ฿69.3

82.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$7.91 LYD 49.91

$19.84 ฿656

-60.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.17 LYD 20.00

$5.79 ฿191

-45.25%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.49 LYD 3.08

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.61 LYD 3.86

Cappuccino

$0.48 LYD 3.05

$1.83 ฿60.4

-73.77%

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

$0.32 LYD 2.02

$0.78 ฿25.61

-58.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$0.76 LYD 4.78

$2.03 ฿67.1

-62.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.39 LYD 15.11

$1.42 ฿46.75

68.31%

Eggs

$0.92 LYD 5.78

$2.18 ฿71.9

-57.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.22 LYD 20.34

$3.07 ฿102

4.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

Banana (1kg)

$0.77 LYD 4.83

$1.10 ฿36.19

-30.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.93 LYD 5.84

$1.63 ฿53.8

-42.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.82 LYD 5.18

$1.23 ฿40.76

-33.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

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

$13.35 ฿441

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.14 LYD 89.2

$20.83 ฿688

-32.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

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

$787 ฿26.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.22 LYD 197

$56.2 ฿1,858

-44.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.71 LYD 244

$24.95 ฿824

55.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$38.74 LYD 245

$92.7 ฿3,063

-58.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.98 LYD 252

$75.1 ฿2,482

-46.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$155 LYD 978

$910 ฿30.1K

-82.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$94.6 LYD 597

$531 ฿17.5K

-82.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$193 LYD 1,221

$1,980 ฿65.4K

-90.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$78.7 LYD 497

$1,451 ฿47.9K

-94.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$176 LYD 1,113

$605 ฿20.0K

-70.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Derna: September 6, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 243% 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 $8.00 in Derna versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $45.00 vs $242 – 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 444% 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 $262 per month in Derna and $1,426 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 $175 in Derna and $950 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 436% 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.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Derna, where all-in costs run around $175, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Derna it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Derna costs $175 versus $950 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.