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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,739 per month in Dili vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,621 per month in Dili vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,503 per month in Dili vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Dili costs about 104% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Dili sits 30% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.92 $4.92

$1.96 ฿64.0

151.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.67 $45.67

$18.81 ฿615

142.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 $7.86

$7.92 ฿259

-0.76%

Cappuccino

$3.86 $3.86

$1.91 ฿62.6

102.09%

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

$1.61 $1.61

$0.84 ฿27.41

91.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 $1.38

$0.35 ฿11.51

294.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.21 ฿72.1

-10.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.54 $4.54

$3.80 ฿124

19.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.51 $2.51

$1.64 ฿53.5

53.05%

White Bread (500g)

$2.38 $2.38

$1.62 ฿53.1

46.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.18 ฿38.62

67.80%

Eggs

$2.73 $2.73

$2.01 ฿65.8

35.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.05 $2.05

$15.89 ฿520

-87.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.53 $9.53

$3.01 ฿98.5

216.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.98 $15.98

$10.77 ฿352

48.38%

Apples (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$2.61 ฿85.5

31.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.87 $1.87

$1.22 ฿39.88

53.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.01 $2.01

$1.70 ฿55.7

18.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.55 $2.55

$1.58 ฿51.5

61.39%

Potato (1kg)

$1.94 $1.94

$1.32 ฿43.14

46.97%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 $1.21

$1.17 ฿38.23

3.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 $1.03

$0.67 ฿21.98

53.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 $0.97

$0.56 ฿18.32

73.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.80 $2.80

$4.53 ฿148

-38.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.84 $11.84

$18.20 ฿595

-34.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 $2.22

$1.83 ฿60.0

21.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.75 $2.75

$3.23 ฿106

-14.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 $0.24

$0.89 ฿29.00

-73.03%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.58 $3.58

$1.35 ฿44.20

165.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.27 $3.27

$1.35 ฿44.05

142.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$20.35 $20.35

$8.25 ฿270

146.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.55 $1.55

$1.27 ฿41.64

22.05%

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)

$151 $151

$70.2 ฿2,294

115.28%

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

$29.88 $29.88

$13.77 ฿450

116.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.80 $49.80

$17.60 ฿575

182.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.4 $50.4

$41.57 ฿1,360

21.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$2.94 $2.94

$6.60 ฿216

-55.45%

Cinema Ticket

$5.41 $5.41

$5.78 ฿189

-6.40%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.1K $16.1K

$14.8K ฿484.8K

8.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.4 $60.4

$54.4 ฿1,778

11.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.56 $29.56

$26.14 ฿855

13.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.1 $79.1

$84.5 ฿2,764

-6.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$59.2 $59.2

$69.4 ฿2,270

-14.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,086 $1,086

$424 ฿13.9K

156.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$945 $945

$238 ฿7,788

296.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,427 $3,427

$825 ฿27.0K

315.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,650 $1,650

$515 ฿16.8K

220.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,583 $3,583

$635 ฿20.8K

464.00%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.37

7.40%

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

Last update for Dili: April 26, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,086 in Dili versus $424 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 464% higher in Dili, 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 $46.00 in Dili versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $283 vs $243 – making Chiang Mai 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

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

Dili costs about 104% 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 $2,609 per month in Dili and $1,278 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 $1,739 in Dili and $852 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 16% more in Dili, 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 Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $852, than in Dili at $1,739. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Dili it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $1,739 in Dili. 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, Dili makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.