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 102.9% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 201.7% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Durham, NC is 118.3% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 161% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Durham, NC
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.14 $15.14
$2.02 ฿65.3
649.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.9 $70.9
$18.78 ฿608
277.37%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.95 $9.95
$7.67 ฿248
29.73%
Cappuccino
$4.6 $4.6
$1.98 ฿64.2
132.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 $2.15
$0.82 ฿26.64
162.20%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 $1.83
$0.33 ฿10.58
454.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.11 $5.11
$2.12 ฿68.6
141.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.53 $6.53
$3.73 ฿121
75.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Durham, NC
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.86 $0.86
$1.64 ฿53.2
-47.56%
White Bread (500g)
$3.8 $3.8
$1.57 ฿50.9
142.04%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.68 $3.68
$1.19 ฿38.62
209.24%
Eggs
$4.41 $4.41
$1.98 ฿64.1
122.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.23 $9.23
$15.99 ฿517
-42.28%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.48 $12.48
$3.12 ฿101
300.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.72 $15.72
$11.16 ฿361
40.86%
Apples (1kg)
$5.53 $5.53
$2.76 ฿89.2
100.36%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 $1.18
$1.22 ฿39.5
-3.28%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.74 $3.74
$1.71 ฿55.4
118.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.43 $3.43
$1.55 ฿50.2
121.29%
Potato (1kg)
$2.57 $2.57
$1.34 ฿43.21
91.79%
Onion (1kg)
$2.81 $2.81
$1.21 ฿39.23
132.23%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.9 $1.9
$0.72 ฿23.2
163.89%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.92 $1.92
$0.53 ฿17.05
262.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.15 $10.15
$4.72 ฿153
115.04%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.17 $15.17
$18.39 ฿595
-17.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 $1.75
$1.79 ฿57.9
-2.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.22 $4.22
$3.21 ฿104
31.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Durham, NC
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.99 $1.99
$0.94 ฿30.44
111.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$25.24 $25.24
$18.9 ฿612
33.54%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.02 $2.02
$1.42 ฿46.08
42.25%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.52 $1.52
$1.35 ฿43.53
12.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$22.79 $22.79
$7.85 ฿254
190.32%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.87 $0.87
$1.25 ฿40.4
-30.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.5K $28.5K
$21.2K ฿684.9K
34.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$21.8K ฿706.8K
19.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Durham, NC
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$162 $162
$70.6 ฿2,285
130.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.6 $53.6
$13.72 ฿444
290.74%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.3 $75.3
$17.56 ฿568
328.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Durham, NC
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.25 $40.25
$41.64 ฿1,347
-3.34%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.9 ฿223
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.15 $12.15
$5.8 ฿188
109.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Durham, NC
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,288 $1,288
$308 ฿9,963
318.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.2K $31.2K
$14.7K ฿475.8K
112.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Durham, NC
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.2 $52.2
$55.4 ฿1,793
-5.79%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.49 $34.49
$26.4 ฿854
30.64%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.5 $79.5
$85.1 ฿2,755
-6.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 $119
$71.8 ฿2,323
65.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Durham, NC
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,875 $1,875
$434 ฿14K
331.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,425 $1,425
$235 ฿7,610
505.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,525 $2,525
$821 ฿26.6K
207.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,308 $2,308
$498 ฿16.1K
363.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,823 $2,823
$2,180 ฿70.6K
29.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,665 $2,665
$1,543 ฿49.9K
72.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Durham, NC
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,429 $4,429
$703 ฿22.8K
529.61%
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: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

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