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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,974 per month in Dubendorf vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,958 per month in Dubendorf vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,942 per month in Dubendorf vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Dubendorf costs about 359% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Dubendorf sits 197% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.79 CHF 24.27

$1.94 ฿63.5

1487.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$150 CHF 119

$18.64 ฿609

706.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$18.42 CHF 14.52

$7.82 ฿255

135.55%

Cappuccino

$6.38 CHF 5.03

$1.95 ฿63.8

227.18%

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

$5.85 CHF 4.61

$0.85 ฿27.77

588.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.40 CHF 4.25

$0.35 ฿11.58

1442.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.41 CHF 5.85

$2.13 ฿69.6

247.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.99 CHF 5.51

$3.73 ฿122

87.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.15 CHF 1.69

$1.71 ฿56.0

25.73%

White Bread (500g)

$3.26 CHF 2.57

$1.63 ฿53.2

100.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.08 CHF 3.22

$1.14 ฿37.15

257.89%

Eggs

$7.26 CHF 5.72

$1.93 ฿63.1

276.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$29.29 CHF 23.09

$16.21 ฿530

80.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$31.91 CHF 25.16

$3.12 ฿102

922.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$49.09 CHF 38.70

$10.90 ฿356

350.37%

Apples (1kg)

$3.18 CHF 2.50

$2.75 ฿90.0

15.64%

Banana (1kg)

$2.81 CHF 2.21

$1.21 ฿39.52

132.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.09 CHF 2.43

$1.62 ฿53.0

90.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.09 CHF 5.59

$1.59 ฿51.8

345.91%

Potato (1kg)

$2.78 CHF 2.19

$1.40 ฿45.70

98.57%

Onion (1kg)

$2.27 CHF 1.79

$1.17 ฿38.17

94.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.55 CHF 2.01

$0.66 ฿21.60

286.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 CHF 1.37

$0.53 ฿17.22

226.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.01 CHF 8.68

$4.69 ฿153

134.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.50 CHF 12.22

$18.66 ฿609

-16.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.24 CHF 1.76

$1.80 ฿58.8

24.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 CHF 2.32

$3.23 ฿106

-8.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$7.71 CHF 6.08

$0.90 ฿29.26

756.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$123 CHF 97.1

$19.21 ฿628

541.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.87 CHF 5.42

$1.41 ฿45.91

387.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.25 CHF 3.35

$1.29 ฿42.12

229.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$79.7 CHF 62.9

$7.84 ฿256

916.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.31 CHF 1.82

$1.27 ฿41.58

81.89%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$39.6K CHF 31.2K

$21.3K ฿694.9K

86.17%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$40.2K CHF 31.7K

$22.2K ฿725.4K

80.90%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$260 CHF 205

$69.1 ฿2,256

277.11%

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

$35.53 CHF 28.02

$14.08 ฿460

152.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.7 CHF 41.56

$18.00 ฿588

192.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$87.4 CHF 68.9

$41.06 ฿1,341

112.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$55.8 CHF 43.96

$6.96 ฿227

701.01%

Cinema Ticket

$25.12 CHF 19.80

$5.92 ฿193

324.32%

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

$2,686 CHF 2,118

$299 ฿9,766

798.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.6K CHF 31.3K

$15.0K ฿488.3K

165.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$147 CHF 116

$54.7 ฿1,787

169.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$64.5 CHF 50.8

$26.77 ฿874

140.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$147 CHF 116

$85.0 ฿2,776

73.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$202 CHF 159

$70.6 ฿2,306

186.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,855 CHF 1,462

$428 ฿14.0K

333.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,860 CHF 1,467

$237 ฿7,752

683.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,681 CHF 2,114

$801 ฿26.2K

234.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,917 CHF 2,299

$515 ฿16.8K

465.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$14.0K CHF 11.1K

$1,975 ฿64.5K

610.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$10.0K CHF 7,885

$1,475 ฿48.2K

578.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,069 CHF 3,208

$617 ฿20.2K

558.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.5

-50.00%

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

Last update for Dubendorf: June 2, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,855 in Dubendorf versus $428 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 559% higher in Dubendorf, 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 $150 in Dubendorf versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $667 vs $246 – 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

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

Dubendorf costs about 359% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,961 per month in Dubendorf and $1,300 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.

Kindergarten costs $2,686 per month in Dubendorf and $299 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 171% more in Dubendorf, 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 $866, than in Dubendorf at $3,974. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Dubendorf it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $3,974 in Dubendorf. 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, Dubendorf makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.