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

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $519 per month in Duma vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $796 per month in Duma vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,074 per month in Duma vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Duma is about 40% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Duma and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Duma 61% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.98 SYP 661

$1.94 ฿63.5

208.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.51 SYP 3,040

$18.64 ฿609

47.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.49 SYP 606

$7.82 ฿255

-29.80%

Cappuccino

$1.56 SYP 172

$1.95 ฿63.8

-20.00%

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

$1.13 SYP 125

$0.85 ฿27.77

32.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 SYP 76.0

$0.35 ฿11.58

97.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.62 SYP 179

$2.13 ฿69.6

-23.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 SYP 273

$3.73 ฿122

-33.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.02 SYP 113

$1.71 ฿56.0

-40.35%

White Bread (500g)

$0.60 SYP 65.9

$1.63 ฿53.2

-63.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 SYP 188

$1.14 ฿37.15

49.12%

Eggs

$1.86 SYP 206

$1.93 ฿63.1

-3.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.01 SYP 332

$16.21 ฿530

-81.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.72 SYP 853

$3.12 ฿102

147.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.26 SYP 1,244

$10.90 ฿356

3.30%

Apples (1kg)

$0.88 SYP 97.0

$2.75 ฿90.0

-68.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 SYP 190

$1.21 ฿39.52

42.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.03 SYP 114

$1.62 ฿53.0

-36.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.96 SYP 106

$1.59 ฿51.8

-39.62%

Potato (1kg)

$0.62 SYP 68.0

$1.40 ฿45.70

-55.71%

Onion (1kg)

$0.66 SYP 72.8

$1.17 ฿38.17

-43.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.38 SYP 41.55

$0.66 ฿21.60

-42.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 SYP 68.9

$0.53 ฿17.22

16.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.02 SYP 334

$4.69 ฿153

-35.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.94 SYP 656

$18.66 ฿609

-68.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 SYP 112

$1.80 ฿58.8

-43.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.84 SYP 203

$3.23 ฿106

-43.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.99 SYP 109

$1.41 ฿45.91

-29.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.23 SYP 136

$1.29 ฿42.12

-4.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.38 SYP 705

$7.84 ฿256

-18.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$3.76 SYP 415

$1.27 ฿41.58

196.06%

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

$18.6K SYP 2.1M

$21.3K ฿694.9K

-12.48%

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

$21.0K SYP 2.3M

$22.2K ฿725.4K

-5.40%

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

$100 SYP 11.1K

$69.1 ฿2,256

45.10%

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

$8.60 SYP 950

$14.08 ฿460

-38.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$55.2 SYP 6,102

$18.00 ฿588

206.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$3.02 SYP 334

$5.92 ฿193

-48.99%

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

$43.19 SYP 4,773

$299 ฿9,766

-85.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,854 SYP 204.8K

$15.0K ฿488.3K

-87.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.12 SYP 3,218

$54.7 ฿1,787

-46.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.61 SYP 2,830

$26.77 ฿874

-4.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$45.12 SYP 4,986

$85.0 ฿2,776

-46.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.0 SYP 6,184

$70.6 ฿2,306

-20.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.75

175.00%

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

Last update for Duma: June 1, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Duma versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $168 in Duma vs $246 in Chiang Mai – so Duma wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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

Chiang Mai costs about 67% more than Duma, 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 $778 per month in Duma and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Duma and $19.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 46% 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.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $519 in Duma and $866 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Duma costs $519 versus $866 in Chiang Mai. 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 Duma. 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.