Head-to-head comparison

Chiang Mai vs Dublin

Full head-to-head breakdown

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Matchup

Chiang Mai vs Dublin

Full score breakdown below

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Nomad Scores

Head-to-head
Chiang Mai

Thailand

#1 of 104 in the dataset

Dublin

Ireland

#80 of 104 in the dataset

Nomad Score96/10074/100
Cost of living7 metrics
Monthly cost$996$3,559
Monthly cost (couple)$837$1,697
1BR centre$467$2,485
1BR outside centre$278$2,145
Inexpensive meal$2.09$22.75
Cappuccino$1.73$4.98
Monthly cost (family)$1,932$3,921
Internet2 metrics
Fiber
322 Mbps262 Mbps6 ms
336 Mbps64 Mbps10 ms
Mobile (4G/5G)
142 Mbps28 Mbps33 ms
217 Mbps33 Mbps25 ms
Quality of life7 metrics
Safety7.8/104.6/10
Climate index7686
Healthcare8551
Pollution index7841
Purchasing power53109
Quality of life index137151
Commute time26 min40 min
Visa & entry2 metrics
Nomad visa stay5 years (180 days per entry, extendable to 360)
Visa-free stay (your passport)

Chiang Mai vs Dublin at a glance

Nomad Scores — add your passport in the tool above to see your visa-free stay in each city.

Nomad Score

Chiang Mai96/100

Dublin74/100

Monthly cost (solo)

Chiang Mai$529

Dublin$1,074

Cost of living (incl. 1BR)

Chiang Mai$996

Dublin$3,559

Fiber download

Chiang Mai322 Mbps

Dublin336 Mbps

Chiang Mai vs Dublin: which is better for digital nomads?

The first number most nomads check — the Nomad Score — favors Chiang Mai at 96/100 over Dublin's 74/100, by 22 points. Under the hood, that score is a weighted average where affordability leads the mix at 35%.

Remote-work infrastructure splits them: Chiang Mai averages 322 Mbps on fixed fiber and Dublin 336 Mbps, at 6 ms and 10 ms latency. Put simply, Dublin is the one to pick if download speed is your bottleneck — 217 Mbps mobile in Dublin keeps you connected on the move.

Safety divides them more than connectivity does: Chiang Mai (7.8/10) against Dublin (4.6/10).

Legal stay differs: Ireland has no nomad visa on record, whereas Thailand's nomad visa allows 5 years (180 days per entry, extendable to 360) in Chiang Mai. Select your passport in the comparison to fill in your visa-free stay days.

Climate tilts one way: Chiang Mai posts 76 on the climate index and Dublin 86.

The price tags tell the story fast: $529 per month as a single in Chiang Mai against $1,074 in Dublin, with 1BR centre rents of $467 and $2,485. Including rent, Chiang Mai works out to $996 versus $3,559 — a 72% saving.

Bottom line. Chiang Mai's ~72% cost advantage is hard to talk around — it is the one number here that moves most nomads' decisions on its own.

Chiang Mai vs Dublin — FAQ

+Is Chiang Mai or Dublin cheaper to live in?

Chiang Mai costs about $996 a month for a solo digital nomad ($529 spending plus $467 for a 1BR in the centre). Dublin comes to $3,559 ($1,074 plus $2,485 for rent). Chiang Mai is the cheaper base, about 72% less.

+How much does a couple spend in Chiang Mai vs Dublin?

For two people sharing, monthly costs run about $837 in Chiang Mai and $1,697 in Dublin.

+Which city has a higher Nomad Score, Chiang Mai or Dublin?

Chiang Mai tops the pair at 96/100 versus 74/100. Five weighted inputs produce that number: affordability 35%, internet 25%, climate 15%, safety 15% and visa freedom 10%.

+Which city has faster internet for remote work?

Dublin has the faster fixed connection at 336 Mbps versus 322 Mbps, with 6 ms vs 10 ms latency.

+Is Chiang Mai or Dublin safer for digital nomads?

Chiang Mai scores 7.8/10 for safety versus 4.6/10 in Dublin.

+How do the visa options compare between Chiang Mai and Dublin?

Chiang Mai's country runs a digital nomad visa valid for 5 years (180 days per entry, extendable to 360), while Dublin's country has no dedicated digital nomad visa in our database. Add your passport and the visa rows fill in your visa-free stay days.

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