Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Ballsh

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $936 a month against $1,185 in Ballsh, rent and utilities included – about $3,000 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index
57

Cost of Living Index in Ballsh
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Ballsh Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$936

/mo nomad

Ballsh

🇦🇱 Albania

$1,185

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Ballsh

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Ballsh actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,185 in Ballsh, rent included.

Chiang Mai $936
Ballsh $1,185

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,834 in Ballsh, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,457
Ballsh $1,834

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,484 in Ballsh, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,979
Ballsh $2,484

Chiang Mai is about 21% cheaper than Ballsh, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Chiang Mai and Ballsh are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Ballsh 13% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.24 ฿75.5

$9.65 ALL 786

-76.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.00 ฿640

$54.6 ALL 4,443

-65.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.55 ฿187

$7.04 ALL 573

-21.16%

Cappuccino

$1.67 ฿56.4

$2.25 ALL 183

-25.78%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.64 ฿21.51

$1.47 ALL 120

-56.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.29

$0.90 ALL 73.3

-65.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 ฿79.5

$3.50 ALL 285

-32.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿123

$4.11 ALL 335

-10.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ฿65.7

$2.24 ALL 183

-12.95%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ฿48.41

$1.22 ALL 99.0

18.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 ฿44.97

$2.35 ALL 191

-43.40%

Eggs

$2.28 ฿77.0

$3.80 ALL 310

-40.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.45 ฿554

$13.01 ALL 1,059

26.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.78 ฿93.8

$9.45 ALL 770

-70.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.31 ฿314

$17.32 ALL 1,411

-46.25%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 ฿79.3

$1.97 ALL 160

19.29%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 ฿32.75

$2.51 ALL 204

-61.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 ฿53.8

$2.22 ALL 181

-27.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.6

$1.91 ALL 155

-21.47%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿43.06

$1.06 ALL 86.7

20.75%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿37.14

$1.32 ALL 107

-16.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿23.79

$1.50 ALL 123

-52.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.34

$0.80 ALL 65.5

-38.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 ฿140

$4.79 ALL 390

-13.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.52 ฿590

$10.42 ALL 849

68.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 ฿54.4

$1.62 ALL 132

-0.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿93.8

$2.03 ALL 166

36.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ฿29.27

$0.53 ALL 42.87

64.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.1 ฿1,823

$18.09 ALL 1,473

199.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 ฿39.00

$3.77 ALL 307

-69.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.78

$3.82 ALL 311

-86.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿81.6

$18.59 ALL 1,514

-86.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.82

$2.42 ALL 197

-40.08%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.1K ฿709.7K

$33.2K ALL 2.7M

-36.63%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.9K ฿907.9K

$29.1K ALL 2.4M

-7.57%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$62.2 ฿2,095

$97.8 ALL 7,963

-36.42%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$12.17 ฿410

$18.77 ALL 1,529

-35.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ฿678

$20.21 ALL 1,646

-0.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.31 ฿1,257

$50.8 ALL 4,139

-26.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿127

Cinema Ticket

$6.49 ฿219

$9.73 ALL 792

-33.30%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$736 ฿24.8K

$341 ALL 27.7K

116.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿497.6K

$8,309 ALL 676.7K

77.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 ฿1,799

$48.97 ALL 3,989

8.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.64 ฿830

$47.59 ALL 3,876

-48.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.5 ฿3,083

$118 ALL 9,633

-22.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.9 ฿2,424

$112 ALL 9,148

-35.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.3K

$446 ALL 36.3K

8.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 ฿10.4K

$332 ALL 27.1K

-6.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 ฿33.9K

$612 ALL 49.9K

64.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$633 ฿21.3K

$486 ALL 39.6K

30.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,363 ฿79.6K

$1,745 ALL 142.1K

35.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,589 ฿53.6K

$1,144 ALL 93.2K

38.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$590 ฿19.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

5.16

7.95%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Last update for Ballsh: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$309 33%

Ballsh

$332 28% 7.5% $23

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$234 25.1%

Ballsh

$295 24.9% 26% $61

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$109 11.6%

Ballsh

$147 12.4% 35.5% $39

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Ballsh

$137 11.5% 44.8% $42

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$78 8.3%

Ballsh

$160 13.5% 107% $83

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Ballsh

$43 3.6% 29.8% $18

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Ballsh

$70 5.9% 39.8% $20

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Chiang Mai versus $446 in Ballsh. 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 $19 in Chiang Mai versus $55 in Ballsh. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $234 vs $295 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇦🇱 Ballsh

🕒 Local time

15:21 3:21 PM

09:21 9:21 AM

6 h behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

7,000

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Albanian Lek ALL L

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.97 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

100 ALL = 1.23 USD

100 ALL = 1.1 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

ALL, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 33.7 THB (100 THB = 2.97 USD). 1 EUR = 37.61 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Albanian Lek exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 81.44 ALL (100 ALL = 1.23 USD). 1 EUR = 90.88 ALL (100 ALL = 1.1 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Chiang Mai Ballsh 7,770 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Ballsh

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

Chiang Mai vs Ballsh: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ballsh is pricier by about 27%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,778 in Ballsh. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A central 1-bedroom goes for about $482 in Chiang Mai and $446 in Ballsh. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.

Groceries cost about 26% more in Ballsh, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai and $55 in Ballsh. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $936 in Chiang Mai and $1,185 in Ballsh. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $936 in Chiang Mai to $1,185 in Ballsh. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.