😐A single person spends $1,196 per month in Dilijan vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,967 per month in Dilijan vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,739 per month in Dilijan vs $1,855 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Dilijan costs about 38% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Dilijan and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Dilijan11% lower, Chiang Mai35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dilijan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.26֏3,773
$1.98฿64.6
418.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.85֏14.7K
$18.80฿615
111.97%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.94֏2,921
$7.75฿253
2.45%
Cappuccino
$2.64֏971
$1.92฿62.7
37.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04֏382
$0.79฿25.87
31.65%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49֏182
$0.36฿11.66
36.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.80֏661
$2.21฿72.3
-18.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59֏951
$3.66฿120
-29.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dilijan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65֏605
$1.65฿54.0
-
White Bread(500g)
$0.89֏327
$1.63฿53.3
-45.40%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.37֏872
$1.19฿38.99
99.16%
Eggs
$2.34֏860
$2.00฿65.3
17.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.58֏3,154
$15.98฿522
-46.31%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.47֏2,746
$3.03฿98.9
146.53%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.30֏4,522
$10.86฿355
13.26%
Apples(1kg)
$1.27֏467
$2.76฿90.3
-53.99%
Banana(1kg)
$1.52֏560
$1.18฿38.55
28.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.74֏639
$1.64฿53.7
6.10%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.30֏846
$1.52฿49.68
51.32%
Potato(1kg)
$0.75֏277
$1.38฿45.25
-45.65%
Onion(1kg)
$0.71֏263
$1.19฿38.97
-40.34%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89֏327
$0.70฿22.94
27.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66֏242
$0.56฿18.19
17.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.55֏938
$4.58฿150
-44.32%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.97֏4,032
$16.56฿541
-33.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.27֏469
$1.83฿59.7
-30.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17֏798
$3.20฿105
-32.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Dilijan
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.25֏91.9
$0.88฿28.66
-71.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$18.72฿612
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.56֏573
$1.36฿44.31
14.71%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.29֏105
$1.34฿43.80
-78.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.85֏1,784
$7.84฿256
-38.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36֏500
$1.23฿40.06
10.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.3K֏11.5M
$21.6K฿706.7K
44.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.8K֏13.9M
$22.5K฿736.8K
67.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dilijan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$116֏42.8K
$70.5฿2,305
64.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.58֏2,785
$13.68฿447
-44.59%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.24֏7,441
$17.45฿570
15.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dilijan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$90.3֏33.2K
$41.33฿1,351
118.51%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.96฿228
-
Cinema Ticket
$2.56֏939
$5.77฿189
-55.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dilijan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$158֏58.0K
$307฿10.0K
-48.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,539֏2.8M
$14.6K฿477.5K
-48.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dilijan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$108֏39.8K
$55.8฿1,823
94.01%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.2֏22.1K
$26.21฿856
129.76%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$143֏52.7K
$85.8฿2,802
67.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$137֏50.4K
$72.2฿2,361
89.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dilijan
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$546֏200.8K
$430฿14.0K
27.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$366֏134.5K
$239฿7,800
53.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$987֏362.9K
$817฿26.7K
20.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$856֏314.8K
$511฿16.7K
67.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,983฿64.8K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,484฿48.5K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dilijan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$679֏249.7K
$619฿20.2K
9.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
15.53
5
210.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Dilijan: June 7, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $546 in Dilijan versus $430 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 10% higher in Dilijan, 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 $40.00 in Dilijan versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $226 in Dilijan vs $241 in Chiang Mai – so Dilijan wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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
Dilijan vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Dilijan or Chiang Mai?
Dilijan costs about 38% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. 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 Dilijan vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,794 per month in Dilijan and $1,303 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Dilijan 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 do dining costs compare in Dilijan vs Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $40.00 in Dilijan and $19.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Dilijan or Chiang Mai?
Interestingly, groceries are about 7% cheaper in Dilijan – 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 Dilijan or Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $869, than in Dilijan at $1,196. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Dilijan it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Dilijan or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $869 versus $1,196 in Dilijan. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Dilijan 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 Dilijan or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Dilijan makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.