ðA single person spends $1,958 per month in Dundee vs $845 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
ðA couple spends around $2,989 per month in Dundee vs $1,323 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
ðA family of three spends $4,019 per month in Dundee vs $1,802 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
ðDundee costs about 132% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðDundee sits 46% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 37% below â they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Dundee
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.27ÂĢ14.98
$1.95āļŋ62.5
939.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$96.2ÂĢ71.1
$18.43āļŋ590
421.87%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.16ÂĢ7.51
$7.50āļŋ240
35.47%
Cappuccino
$4.42ÂĢ3.26
$1.93āļŋ61.9
129.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24ÂĢ1.66
$0.78āļŋ24.94
187.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31ÂĢ0.97
$0.32āļŋ10.36
309.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.97ÂĢ4.42
$2.15āļŋ68.8
177.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.64ÂĢ4.17
$3.71āļŋ119
52.02%
ð Groceries & Markets
Dundee
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.14ÂĢ1.58
$1.71āļŋ54.9
25.15%
White Bread(500g)
$1.55ÂĢ1.15
$1.56āļŋ50.0
-0.64%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.47ÂĢ1.83
$1.18āļŋ37.85
109.32%
Eggs
$4.87ÂĢ3.60
$1.98āļŋ63.5
145.96%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.41ÂĢ6.22
$16.04āļŋ514
-47.57%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.57ÂĢ7.08
$3.17āļŋ102
201.89%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.73ÂĢ11.62
$10.94āļŋ351
43.78%
Apples(1kg)
$3.11ÂĢ2.29
$2.63āļŋ84.2
18.25%
Banana(1kg)
$2.33ÂĢ1.72
$1.17āļŋ37.40
99.15%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.64ÂĢ1.95
$1.65āļŋ52.7
60.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.60ÂĢ3.40
$1.54āļŋ49.23
198.70%
Potato(1kg)
$2.10ÂĢ1.55
$1.38āļŋ44.09
52.17%
Onion(1kg)
$1.86ÂĢ1.38
$1.17āļŋ37.33
58.97%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.22ÂĢ0.90
$0.66āļŋ21.13
84.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.13ÂĢ1.58
$0.51āļŋ16.46
317.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$19.09ÂĢ14.10
$4.52āļŋ145
322.35%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.12ÂĢ8.96
$18.32āļŋ587
-33.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.10ÂĢ2.29
$1.80āļŋ57.6
72.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99ÂĢ2.21
$3.18āļŋ102
-5.97%
ð Getting Around
Dundee
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.60ÂĢ2.66
$0.90āļŋ28.80
300.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$58.3ÂĢ43.10
$19.00āļŋ609
206.95%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.66ÂĢ3.45
$1.41āļŋ45.25
230.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.38ÂĢ1.02
$1.31āļŋ41.91
5.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$23.55ÂĢ17.40
$8.09āļŋ259
191.10%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89ÂĢ1.40
$1.28āļŋ40.85
47.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.9KÂĢ28.8K
$21.3Kāļŋ682.3K
82.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$46.4KÂĢ34.3K
$21.7Kāļŋ695.4K
113.57%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dundee
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$231ÂĢ171
$69.2āļŋ2,217
234.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.62ÂĢ10.80
$13.97āļŋ448
4.65%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$46.52ÂĢ34.38
$17.95āļŋ575
159.16%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Dundee
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.87ÂĢ36.12
$42.31āļŋ1,356
15.50%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.60ÂĢ7.09
$6.66āļŋ213
44.14%
Cinema Ticket
$12.76ÂĢ9.43
$5.92āļŋ190
115.54%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Dundee
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,627ÂĢ1,202
$299āļŋ9,586
443.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.6KÂĢ12.3K
$14.8Kāļŋ475.8K
11.94%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Dundee
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$97.3ÂĢ71.9
$56.2āļŋ1,800
73.23%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$65.2ÂĢ48.18
$26.94āļŋ863
142.02%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$137ÂĢ101
$84.9āļŋ2,719
61.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120ÂĢ88.7
$71.8āļŋ2,301
67.01%
ð Accommodation & Living
Dundee
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$917ÂĢ678
$435āļŋ13.9K
110.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$675ÂĢ499
$240āļŋ7,684
181.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,544ÂĢ1,141
$798āļŋ25.6K
93.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,100ÂĢ813
$498āļŋ16.0K
120.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,117ÂĢ3,042
$1,995āļŋ63.9K
106.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,343ÂĢ2,471
$1,532āļŋ49.1K
118.26%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Dundee
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,294ÂĢ2,435
$628āļŋ20.1K
424.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.9
5
18.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Dundee: April 20, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A central one-bedroom costs $917 in Dundee versus $435 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.
ð°Salaries run about 424% higher in Dundee, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
ðA mid-range dinner for two costs $96 in Dundee versus $18 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $336 vs $244 â 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
Dundee vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Dundee or Chiang Mai?
Dundee costs about 132% 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 Dundee vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,938 per month in Dundee and $1,267 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled â not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Dundee 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 Dundee and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $1,627 per month in Dundee and $299 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 Dundee or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 38% more in Dundee, 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 Dundee or Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $845, than in Dundee at $1,958. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Dundee it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Dundee or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $845 versus $1,958 in Dundee. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Dundee 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 â central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Dundee or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Dundee makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.