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Chiang Mai vs Da Lat cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money · Updated September 2026
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇻🇳 Da LatChiang Mai and Da Lat cost about the same
Living on $994 a month in Chiang Mai feels like about $1,044 in Da Lat — same standard of living, compared by feel rather than exchange rate.
Per day
$53.8 vs $55.4
Per month
$994 vs $1,044
Local meal
฿ 55 vs ₫ 47,000
$1.67 vs $1.79
Taxi 5 km
฿ 52 vs ₫ 79,000
$1.58 vs $3
At a glance
Foodsimilar
Cafés & drinksDa Lat 46% cheaper
Transportsimilar
Staysimilar
FunDa Lat 10% cheaper
- Where Da Lat is clearly cheaper: Transit (72%↓), Cocktail & wine (55%↓), Beer (55%↓)
- Where Chiang Mai is clearly cheaper: Taxi (48%↓)
Item by item
| Item | Chiang Mai | Da Lat | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | ฿ 55$1.67 | ₫ 47,000$1.79 | Chiang Mai −7% |
| Street food1 item | ฿ 25$0.76 | ₫ 21,000$0.8 | Chiang Mai −5% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | ฿ 300$9.09 | ₫ 210,000$7.98 | Da Lat −12% |
| Coffeeone cup | ฿ 65$1.97 | ₫ 37,000$1.41 | Da Lat −29% |
| Beerone bottle | ฿ 80$2.42 | ₫ 29,000$1.1 | Da Lat −55% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | ฿ 210$6.36 | ₫ 75,000$2.85 | Da Lat −55% |
| Bottled water | ฿ 10$0.3 | ₫ 7,900$0.3 | similar |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | ฿ 25$0.76 | ₫ 20,000$0.76 | similar |
| Taxi5 km in town | ฿ 52$1.58 | ₫ 79,000$3 | Chiang Mai −48% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | ฿ 59$1.79 | ₫ 39,000$1.48 | Da Lat −17% |
| Transitone ride | ฿ 30$0.91 | ₫ 6,600$0.25 | Da Lat −72% |
| Scooter rentalper day | ฿ 240$7.27 | ₫ 160,000$6.08 | Da Lat −16% |
| Hotel night3-star | ฿ 1,000$30.3 | ₫ 790,000$30 | similar |
| Studio rent (month) | ฿ 9,000$273 | ₫ 7,900,000$300 | Chiang Mai −9% |
| Laundry | ฿ 44$1.33 | ₫ 32,000$1.22 | Da Lat −9% |
| SIM card1 week data | ฿ 240$7.27 | ₫ 160,000$6.08 | Da Lat −16% |
| Haircutcut | ฿ 110$3.33 | ₫ 91,000$3.46 | similar |
| Massage1 hour | ฿ 300$9.09 | ₫ 260,000$9.89 | Chiang Mai −8% |
| Half-day tourper person | ฿ 890$27 | ₫ 660,000$25.1 | Da Lat −7% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | ฿ 240$7.27 | ₫ 130,000$4.94 | Da Lat −32% |
Reference prices start as estimates from published price levels; items with 3+ traveler reports use the median of real reports. Hostels and local eateries cut both by 30%+.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Chiang Mai or Da Lat?
Chiang Mai and Da Lat cost about the same. Daily budget $53.8 vs $55.4; a month $994 vs $1,044.
How do monthly costs compare between Chiang Mai and Da Lat?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Chiang Mai is about $994 and Da Lat about $1,044 per month.
Where do the numbers come from?
They start as estimates informed by published price levels; any item with 3+ traveler reports switches to the median of real reports. Live reports are in the app.