🙂A single person spends $783 per month in Dourados vs $847 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,235 per month in Dourados vs $1,332 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,687 per month in Dourados vs $1,816 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Dourados is about 8% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Dourados and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Dourados41% lower, Chiang Mai37% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dourados
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.55R$28.16
$2.03฿68.2
173.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.36R$139
$18.71฿629
46.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.13R$31.13
$7.84฿263
-21.81%
Cappuccino
$1.74R$8.86
$1.93฿64.7
-9.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08R$5.49
$0.83฿27.92
30.12%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66R$3.33
$0.35฿11.77
88.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.85R$9.41
$2.22฿74.6
-16.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66R$13.51
$3.79฿127
-29.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dourados
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.00R$5.08
$1.65฿55.3
-39.39%
White Bread(500g)
$1.49R$7.57
$1.55฿52.1
-3.87%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.18R$6.01
$1.18฿39.69
-
Eggs
$1.96R$9.96
$2.01฿67.7
-2.49%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.19R$41.55
$16.16฿543
-49.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.63R$18.42
$3.03฿102
19.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.09R$35.98
$10.84฿364
-34.59%
Apples(1kg)
$2.07R$10.49
$2.68฿90.0
-22.76%
Banana(1kg)
$1.26R$6.41
$1.22฿41.03
3.28%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.20R$6.11
$1.63฿54.6
-26.38%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.47R$7.44
$1.53฿51.3
-3.92%
Potato(1kg)
$1.14R$5.79
$1.34฿44.98
-14.93%
Onion(1kg)
$1.10R$5.59
$1.21฿40.75
-9.09%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.69R$3.51
$0.70฿23.57
-1.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.65R$3.32
$0.53฿17.65
22.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.16R$10.98
$4.69฿157
-53.94%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.35R$37.31
$17.71฿595
-58.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.22R$6.19
$1.85฿62.0
-34.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07R$10.51
$3.21฿108
-35.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Dourados
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.87R$4.41
$0.89฿29.93
-2.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$37.78R$192
$18.76฿630
101.39%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.11R$5.62
$1.41฿47.27
-21.28%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.71R$3.60
$1.29฿43.40
-44.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.54R$33.19
$7.79฿262
-16.05%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.08R$5.47
$1.29฿43.47
-16.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0KR$106.5K
$21.8K฿731.4K
-3.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.7KR$140.5K
$21.7K฿728.8K
27.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dourados
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$59.9R$304
$70.0฿2,351
-14.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.75R$69.8
$14.19฿477
-3.10%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.68R$94.8
$17.42฿585
7.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dourados
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.32R$113
$41.64฿1,399
-46.40%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.83R$111
$6.89฿231
216.84%
Cinema Ticket
$6.18R$31.36
$5.78฿194
6.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dourados
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$271R$1,374
$300฿10.1K
-9.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,463R$32.8K
$14.5K฿487.9K
-55.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dourados
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.24R$250
$55.4฿1,860
-11.05%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.89R$213
$26.31฿884
59.22%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.2R$382
$84.8฿2,851
-11.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$64.9R$330
$70.5฿2,368
-7.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dourados
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$315R$1,598
$425฿14.3K
-25.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$219R$1,114
$235฿7,898
-6.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$573R$2,909
$802฿27.0K
-28.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$433R$2,196
$516฿17.3K
-16.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,686R$8,559
$1,926฿64.7K
-12.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,074R$5,449
$1,451฿48.7K
-25.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dourados
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$586฿19.7K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.92
5
118.40%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Dourados: July 22, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $315 in Dourados versus $425 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 $27.00 in Dourados versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $173 in Dourados vs $242 in Chiang Mai – so Dourados 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
Dourados vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Dourados or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 8% more than Dourados, 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 Dourados and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,175 per month in Dourados and $1,271 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Dourados or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Dourados, 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 Dourados and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $271 per month in Dourados and $300 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 Dourados or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 40% 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 $800/month in Dourados or in Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $783 in Dourados and $847 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Dourados or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Dourados costs $783 versus $847 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Dourados 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 Dourados or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Dourados. 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.