🙂A single person spends $716 per month in Dongying vs $920 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,137 per month in Dongying vs $1,408 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,558 per month in Dongying vs $1,895 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Dongying is about 22% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Dongying and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Dongying48% lower, Chiang Mai33% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dongying
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.73¥18.32
$2.11฿69.1
29.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.54¥145
$19.75฿648
9.06%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.73¥31.76
$5.85฿192
-19.15%
Cappuccino
$2.99¥20.08
$1.76฿57.8
69.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46¥3.09
$0.74฿24.37
-37.84%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29¥1.95
$0.33฿10.90
-12.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.89¥5.99
$2.47฿81.0
-63.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15¥14.44
$3.88฿127
-44.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dongying
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.81¥12.14
$1.90฿62.4
-4.74%
White Bread(500g)
$1.63¥10.93
$1.67฿54.7
-2.40%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.95¥6.39
$1.35฿44.24
-29.63%
Eggs
$1.62¥10.85
$2.14฿70.2
-24.30%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.63¥84.8
$15.89฿521
-20.52%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.28¥22.04
$2.83฿92.9
15.90%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.37¥69.6
$10.53฿345
-1.52%
Apples(1kg)
$1.88¥12.66
$2.38฿78.2
-21.01%
Banana(1kg)
$1.21¥8.11
$1.07฿35.01
13.08%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.48¥9.93
$1.52฿49.79
-2.63%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.09¥7.33
$1.50฿49.30
-27.33%
Potato(1kg)
$0.70¥4.68
$1.28฿41.96
-45.31%
Onion(1kg)
$0.97¥6.51
$1.10฿36.17
-11.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.56¥3.79
$0.69฿22.54
-18.84%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51¥3.45
$0.49฿16.18
4.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.19¥21.44
$4.27฿140
-25.29%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.40¥69.9
$16.78฿550
-38.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.79¥5.29
$1.66฿54.4
-52.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57¥10.58
$2.81฿92.3
-44.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Dongying
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27¥1.80
$0.90฿29.44
-70.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.64¥112
$54.9฿1,801
-69.69%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.35¥9.10
$1.20฿39.24
12.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35¥2.35
$0.54฿17.78
-35.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.87¥46.15
$2.37฿77.9
189.87%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.13¥7.56
$1.43฿46.88
-20.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4K¥130.3K
$21.1K฿691.5K
-7.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.5K¥117.4K
$27.1K฿890.2K
-35.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dongying
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$44.29¥297
$64.7฿2,124
-31.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.82¥65.9
$13.19฿433
-25.55%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.58¥77.8
$19.44฿638
-40.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dongying
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.69¥280
$39.45฿1,294
5.68%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.82¥92.8
$3.77฿124
266.58%
Cinema Ticket
$5.86¥39.36
$6.62฿217
-11.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dongying
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$333¥2,240
$805฿26.4K
-58.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.0K¥113.9K
$15.1K฿496.1K
12.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dongying
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.48¥292
$54.8฿1,796
-20.58%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.34¥204
$25.43฿834
19.31%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$70.5¥474
$91.9฿3,015
-23.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.1¥484
$74.7฿2,449
-3.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dongying
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$283¥1,902
$467฿15.3K
-39.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$193¥1,300
$282฿9,251
-31.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$597¥4,013
$891฿29.2K
-32.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$360¥2,420
$521฿17.1K
-30.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,044¥20.4K
$1,985฿65.1K
53.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,036¥13.7K
$1,462฿48.0K
39.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dongying
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$592฿19.4K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.89
5.57
-30.16%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Dongying: August 16, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: August 17, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $283 in Dongying versus $467 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 $22.00 in Dongying versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $198 in Dongying vs $237 in Chiang Mai – so Dongying 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
Dongying vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Dongying or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 28% more than Dongying, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. 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 Dongying and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,075 per month in Dongying and $1,380 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Dongying or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Dongying, 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 Dongying and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $333 per month in Dongying and $805 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 Dongying or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 20% 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 $1,500/month in Dongying or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Dongying, where all-in costs run around $716, than in Chiang Mai at $920. In Dongying 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, Dongying or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Dongying costs $716 versus $920 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Dongying 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 Dongying or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Dongying. 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.