Cost of Living Comparison Between Durham, NC and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Durham, NC and Chiang Mai

😐 Solo nomad: Durham, NC is 104.3% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 203.5% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Durham, NC is 92.8% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 172.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Durham, NC
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.76 $14.76
$2.03 ฿63.8
627.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.3 $70.3
$18.59 ฿585
278.27%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.95 $9.95
$7.48 ฿235
33.02%
Cappuccino
$4.55 $4.55
$2.00 ฿62.8
127.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 $2.13
$0.85 ฿26.63
150.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 $1.83
$0.35 ฿11.05
422.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.93 $4.93
$2.21 ฿69.5
123.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.60 $6.60
$3.76 ฿118
75.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Durham, NC
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.92 $0.92
$1.72 ฿54.0
-46.51%
White Bread (500g)
$3.67 $3.67
$1.63 ฿51.4
125.15%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.62 $3.62
$1.16 ฿36.42
212.07%
Eggs
$4.50 $4.50
$1.98 ฿62.2
127.27%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.43 $9.43
$15.93 ฿501
-40.80%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.41 $12.41
$3.17 ฿99.6
291.48%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.93 $15.93
$10.90 ฿343
46.15%
Apples (1kg)
$5.58 $5.58
$2.65 ฿83.2
110.57%
Banana (1kg)
$1.23 $1.23
$1.22 ฿38.45
0.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.82 $3.82
$1.70 ฿53.4
124.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.45 $3.45
$1.59 ฿49.99
116.98%
Potato (1kg)
$2.56 $2.56
$1.32 ฿41.63
93.94%
Onion (1kg)
$2.75 $2.75
$1.17 ฿36.74
135.04%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.90 $1.90
$0.68 ฿21.31
179.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.90 $1.90
$0.56 ฿17.52
239.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.89 $9.89
$4.51 ฿142
119.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.76 $14.76
$19.07 ฿600
-22.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 $1.72
$1.77 ฿55.7
-2.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.19 $4.19
$3.18 ฿100.0
31.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Durham, NC
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.96 $1.96
$0.96 ฿30.27
104.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$25.29 $25.29
$18.90 ฿594
33.81%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.98 $1.98
$1.36 ฿42.69
45.59%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.51 $1.51
$1.35 ฿42.51
11.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$22.10 $22.10
$8.03 ฿253
175.22%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.80 $0.80
$1.24 ฿39.08
-35.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.5K $28.5K
$21.2K ฿665.4K
34.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$21.8K ฿684.0K
20.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Durham, NC
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$159 $159
$71.2 ฿2,240
123.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$54.0 $54.0
$14.09 ฿443
283.25%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$74.5 $74.5
$17.47 ฿549
326.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Durham, NC
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.54 $39.54
$42.07 ฿1,323
-6.01%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.88 ฿216
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.19 $12.19
$5.94 ฿187
105.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Durham, NC
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,307 $1,307
$307 ฿9,664
325.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.0K $31.0K
$14.8K ฿465.1K
109.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Durham, NC
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.9 $51.9
$55.7 ฿1,750
-6.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.11 $35.11
$26.79 ฿842
31.06%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.2 $77.2
$83.2 ฿2,617
-7.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 $120
$70.1 ฿2,204
70.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Durham, NC
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,865 $1,865
$427 ฿13.4K
336.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,438 $1,438
$237 ฿7,454
506.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,607 $2,607
$802 ฿25.2K
225.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,360 $2,360
$503 ฿15.8K
368.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,697 $2,697
$2,061 ฿64.8K
30.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,754 $2,754
$1,533 ฿48.2K
79.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Durham, NC
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,448 $4,448
$654 ฿20.6K
580.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.54
5
30.80%

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

Last update for Durham, NC: March 3, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Similar cities