🙂A single person spends $508 per month in Dobrush vs $947 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $850 per month in Dobrush vs $1,411 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,193 per month in Dobrush vs $1,874 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Dobrush is about 46% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Dobrush and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Dobrush63% lower, Chiang Mai31% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dobrush
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.49BYN 19.86
$2.08฿68.5
212.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.83BYN 88.2
$19.64฿646
46.79%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.16BYN 12.72
$5.65฿186
-26.37%
Cappuccino
$1.51BYN 4.61
$1.81฿59.3
-16.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61BYN 1.87
$0.71฿23.44
-14.08%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32BYN 0.97
$0.32฿10.38
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.17BYN 3.57
$2.24฿73.5
-47.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51BYN 7.67
$3.63฿119
-30.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dobrush
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.73BYN 2.25
$1.96฿64.4
-62.76%
White Bread(500g)
$0.57BYN 1.74
$1.50฿49.38
-62.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.07BYN 3.27
$1.34฿43.92
-20.15%
Eggs
$1.39BYN 4.24
$2.26฿74.4
-38.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.62BYN 20.25
$16.26฿534
-59.29%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.11BYN 12.56
$2.95฿97.1
39.32%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.09BYN 18.64
$9.94฿327
-38.73%
Apples(1kg)
$1.25BYN 3.82
$2.57฿84.5
-51.36%
Banana(1kg)
$1.73BYN 5.30
$1.06฿34.72
63.21%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.77BYN 5.42
$1.61฿53.0
9.94%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.69BYN 5.18
$1.52฿49.96
11.18%
Potato(1kg)
$0.41BYN 1.26
$1.27฿41.76
-67.72%
Onion(1kg)
$0.60BYN 1.84
$1.07฿35.05
-43.93%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.94BYN 2.89
$0.72฿23.67
30.56%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.46BYN 1.42
$0.51฿16.72
-9.80%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.91BYN 5.84
$4.19฿138
-54.42%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.61BYN 23.29
$17.87฿587
-57.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.00BYN 3.06
$1.69฿55.7
-40.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92BYN 5.86
$2.84฿93.2
-32.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Dobrush
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.32BYN 0.97
$0.93฿30.42
-65.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.79BYN 45.26
$53.9฿1,770
-72.54%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.66BYN 2.02
$1.23฿40.58
-46.34%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.47BYN 1.45
$0.58฿18.96
-18.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.03BYN 30.70
$2.42฿79.7
314.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.89BYN 2.73
$1.41฿46.42
-36.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.6KBYN 60.1K
$21.4K฿704.9K
-8.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.9KBYN 60.9K
$27.3K฿898.5K
-27.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dobrush
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$60.9BYN 186
$63.7฿2,093
-4.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.39BYN 22.61
$12.85฿423
-42.49%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.53BYN 35.28
$20.22฿665
-42.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dobrush
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$33.27BYN 102
$38.74฿1,274
-14.12%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.97฿130
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.19BYN 9.76
$6.74฿221
-52.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dobrush
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$323BYN 987
$778฿25.6K
-58.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,837BYN 30.1K
$14.6K฿480.2K
-32.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dobrush
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.22BYN 135
$54.3฿1,785
-18.55%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.05BYN 138
$25.45฿836
77.01%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.8BYN 266
$94.3฿3,101
-8.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105BYN 322
$73.4฿2,414
43.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dobrush
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$324BYN 992
$490฿16.1K
-33.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$289฿9,510
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$557BYN 1,703
$894฿29.4K
-37.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$517฿17.0K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,140BYN 3,489
$1,955฿64.3K
-41.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$893BYN 2,732
$1,477฿48.5K
-39.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dobrush
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$602฿19.8K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
15
5.57
169.30%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Dobrush: August 30, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $324 in Dobrush versus $490 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $29.00 in Dobrush versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $150 in Dobrush vs $240 in Chiang Mai – so Dobrush 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
Dobrush vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Dobrush or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 87% more than Dobrush, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 Dobrush and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $762 per month in Dobrush and $1,421 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Dobrush or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Dobrush, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Dobrush and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $323 per month in Dobrush and $778 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Dobrush or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 61% 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.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Dobrush or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Dobrush, where all-in costs run around $508, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Dobrush it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Dobrush or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Dobrush costs $508 versus $947 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Dobrush 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 Dobrush or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Dobrush. 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.