😐A single person spends $2,081 per month in Dubrovnik vs $947 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,060 per month in Dubrovnik vs $1,411 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,039 per month in Dubrovnik vs $1,874 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Dubrovnik costs about 120% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Dubrovnik sits 51% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 31% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dubrovnik
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.43€17.56
$2.08฿68.6
882.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.4€69.1
$19.64฿646
309.16%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.11€11.27
$5.65฿186
132.04%
Cappuccino
$4.35€3.74
$1.81฿59.4
140.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.86€4.18
$0.71฿23.45
584.51%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.92€4.23
$0.32฿10.38
1437.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.82€5.01
$2.24฿73.6
159.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.02€6.89
$3.63฿119
120.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dubrovnik
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.07€0.92
$1.96฿64.4
-45.41%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26€1.08
$1.50฿49.39
-16.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.33€2.01
$1.34฿43.93
73.88%
Eggs
$4.22€3.63
$2.26฿74.5
86.73%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.36€8.90
$16.26฿535
-36.29%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.38€8.06
$2.95฿97.1
217.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.02€8.62
$9.94฿327
0.80%
Apples(1kg)
$1.95€1.67
$2.57฿84.6
-24.12%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46€1.26
$1.06฿34.73
37.74%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.75€1.51
$1.61฿53.0
8.70%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.91€2.50
$1.52฿49.97
91.45%
Potato(1kg)
$0.91€0.78
$1.27฿41.77
-28.35%
Onion(1kg)
$0.99€0.85
$1.07฿35.06
-7.48%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.15€0.99
$0.72฿23.68
59.72%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.29€1.11
$0.51฿16.72
152.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.48€4.71
$4.19฿138
30.79%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.54€3.90
$17.87฿587
-74.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.34€1.16
$1.69฿55.7
-20.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00€2.58
$2.84฿93.3
5.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Dubrovnik
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.83€2.43
$0.93฿30.43
204.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$57.1€49.09
$53.9฿1,771
6.03%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.78€4.11
$1.23฿40.59
288.62%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.23€1.06
$0.58฿18.96
112.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.48€6.43
$2.42฿79.7
209.09%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.87€1.61
$1.41฿46.43
32.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K€23.1K
$21.4K฿705.1K
25.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5K€21.9K
$27.3K฿898.7K
-6.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dubrovnik
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$188€162
$63.7฿2,093
195.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.18€19.93
$12.85฿423
80.39%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.89€38.59
$20.22฿665
122.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dubrovnik
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$70.6€60.7
$38.74฿1,274
82.24%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.86€21.37
$3.97฿130
526.20%
Cinema Ticket
$8.58€7.38
$6.74฿222
27.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dubrovnik
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$91.5€78.7
$778฿25.6K
-88.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,962€5,985
$14.6K฿480.4K
-52.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dubrovnik
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.9€64.4
$54.3฿1,785
37.91%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.59€25.44
$25.45฿837
16.27%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$70.0€60.1
$94.3฿3,102
-25.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.8€71.2
$73.4฿2,415
12.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dubrovnik
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,494€1,285
$490฿16.1K
205.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$939€807
$289฿9,512
224.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,075€1,784
$894฿29.4K
132.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,505€1,294
$517฿17.0K
191.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,265€7,105
$1,955฿64.3K
322.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,456€3,831
$1,477฿48.6K
201.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dubrovnik
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,541€1,325
$602฿19.8K
155.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.79
5.57
-31.96%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Dubrovnik: August 31, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,494 in Dubrovnik 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.
💰Salaries run about 156% higher in Dubrovnik, 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 $80.0 in Dubrovnik versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 vs $240 – 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
Dubrovnik vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Dubrovnik or Chiang Mai?
Dubrovnik costs about 120% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. 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 Dubrovnik and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,121 per month in Dubrovnik 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, Dubrovnik 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 childcare costs compare in Dubrovnik and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $91.5 per month in Dubrovnik 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 Dubrovnik or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 2% more in Dubrovnik, 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 Dubrovnik or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $947, than in Dubrovnik at $2,081. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Dubrovnik it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Dubrovnik or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $947 versus $2,081 in Dubrovnik. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Dubrovnik 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 Dubrovnik or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Dubrovnik makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.