😐A single person spends $1,694 per month in Montalto Dora vs $950 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,540 per month in Montalto Dora vs $1,430 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,386 per month in Montalto Dora vs $1,909 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Montalto Dora costs about 78% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Montalto Dora sits 23% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 31% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montalto Dora
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.85€5.04
$2.10฿69.3
178.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.7€59.2
$19.84฿656
246.12%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.43€8.13
$5.79฿191
62.87%
Cappuccino
$2.44€2.10
$1.83฿60.4
33.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.38€2.92
$0.78฿25.61
333.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70€1.47
$0.31฿10.37
448.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.94€5.12
$2.34฿77.2
153.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.27€5.41
$3.70฿122
69.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montalto Dora
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.51€1.30
$2.03฿67.1
-25.62%
White Bread(500g)
$2.81€2.42
$1.60฿52.7
75.63%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.79€2.41
$1.42฿46.75
96.48%
Eggs
$4.86€4.19
$2.18฿71.9
122.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.42€16.74
$15.91฿526
22.06%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.19€11.37
$3.07฿102
329.64%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.59€15.16
$9.87฿326
78.22%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34€2.02
$2.63฿86.8
-11.03%
Banana(1kg)
$1.78€1.53
$1.10฿36.19
61.82%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96€1.69
$1.63฿53.8
20.25%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.66€2.29
$1.53฿50.6
73.86%
Potato(1kg)
$1.57€1.35
$1.24฿41.13
26.61%
Onion(1kg)
$1.41€1.22
$1.13฿37.37
24.78%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.77€1.52
$0.74฿24.38
139.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61€0.53
$0.50฿16.48
22.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.79€5.85
$4.28฿141
58.64%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.95€6.85
$17.97฿594
-55.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63€1.41
$1.70฿56.1
-4.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99€1.71
$2.90฿95.7
-31.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Montalto Dora
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.77€1.53
$0.94฿31.13
88.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$43.06€37.12
$55.3฿1,827
-22.12%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.67€4.89
$1.23฿40.76
360.98%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.47€1.27
$0.53฿17.66
177.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.64€24.68
$2.40฿79.3
1093.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.07€1.78
$1.44฿47.55
43.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.5K€32.3K
$21.2K฿700.2K
76.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.9K€31.8K
$27.3K฿902.1K
35.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montalto Dora
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$222€192
$64.9฿2,145
242.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.00€10.34
$13.35฿441
-10.11%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.21€25.18
$20.83฿688
40.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montalto Dora
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.0€49.11
$40.42฿1,336
40.95%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.46€21.95
$3.95฿131
544.56%
Cinema Ticket
$12.01€10.35
$6.71฿222
78.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montalto Dora
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$579€499
$787฿26.0K
-26.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,693€4,045
$15.1K฿499.6K
-68.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montalto Dora
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$97.3€83.9
$56.2฿1,858
73.11%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.65€37.63
$24.95฿824
74.95%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€88.8
$92.7฿3,063
11.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$169€146
$75.1฿2,482
124.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montalto Dora
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$742€640
$484฿16.0K
53.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$591€509
$287฿9,491
105.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,213€1,045
$910฿30.1K
33.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$914€788
$531฿17.5K
72.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,023€2,606
$1,980฿65.4K
52.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,115€1,823
$1,451฿47.9K
45.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montalto Dora
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$605฿20.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.46
5.57
-37.88%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Montalto Dora: September 8, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $742 in Montalto Dora versus $484 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $69.0 in Montalto Dora versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $344 vs $242 – 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
Montalto Dora vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Montalto Dora or Chiang Mai?
Montalto Dora costs about 78% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 Montalto Dora and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,542 per month in Montalto Dora and $1,426 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Montalto Dora 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 Montalto Dora and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $579 per month in Montalto Dora and $787 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 Montalto Dora or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 42% more in Montalto Dora, 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 Montalto Dora or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $950, than in Montalto Dora at $1,694. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Montalto Dora it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Montalto Dora or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $950 versus $1,694 in Montalto Dora. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Montalto Dora 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 Montalto Dora or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Montalto Dora makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Montalto Dora vs other spots: cost of living compared