Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Beirut Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Beirut

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $932 in Chiang Mai versus $1,699 in Beirut.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,399 in Chiang Mai versus $2,699 in Beirut.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,866 in Chiang Mai versus $3,698 in Beirut.

Living in Chiang Mai costs roughly 45% less than in Beirut, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Chiang Mai is 32% below, Beirut is 24% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.5

$12.19 LBP 1.1M

-82.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿655

$63.5 LBP 5.7M

-69.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$10.15 LBP 908.8K

-44.14%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.3

$4.74 LBP 424.0K

-61.81%

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

$0.77 ฿25.65

$2.29 LBP 204.9K

-66.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.53

$0.89 LBP 80.0K

-60.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.9

$4.87 LBP 436.0K

-54.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

$5.06 LBP 452.5K

-25.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.4

$1.87 LBP 167.8K

9.63%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.6

$0.90 LBP 80.7K

67.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.69

$2.21 LBP 198.0K

-36.65%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

$3.52 LBP 315.3K

-35.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

$13.31 LBP 1.2M

21.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.7

$10.62 LBP 950.6K

-72.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$13.91 LBP 1.2M

-32.28%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.4

$2.97 LBP 265.7K

-9.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.37

$1.71 LBP 153.0K

-36.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.0

$1.69 LBP 150.8K

-4.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.74

$1.53 LBP 136.5K

-4.58%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.65

$1.39 LBP 124.6K

-7.91%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.31

$1.62 LBP 145.4K

-34.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.94

$1.20 LBP 107.5K

-40.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.56

$0.68 LBP 60.5K

-22.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$3.02 LBP 269.9K

40.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿611

$10.01 LBP 895.9K

82.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$1.32 LBP 118.2K

23.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.8

$2.56 LBP 229.1K

13.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.32

$2.22 LBP 198.7K

-60.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

$76.1 LBP 6.8M

-29.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.14

$4.99 LBP 446.4K

-76.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.30

$2.30 LBP 206.1K

-74.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

$22.65 LBP 2.0M

-89.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.41

$1.05 LBP 93.8K

38.10%

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

$21.0K ฿701.4K

$53.2K LBP 4.8B

-60.50%

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

$26.4K ฿882.0K

$33.0K LBP 3.0B

-20.04%

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

$63.7 ฿2,125

$230 LBP 20.6M

-72.30%

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

$12.89 ฿430

$23.23 LBP 2.1M

-44.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿685

$37.18 LBP 3.3M

-44.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,302

$85.0 LBP 7.6M

-54.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

$34.36 LBP 3.1M

-88.59%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿220

$9.84 LBP 880.3K

-33.13%

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

$784 ฿26.2K

$676 LBP 60.5M

16.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

$10.8K LBP 968.5M

35.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,840

$67.4 LBP 6.0M

-18.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿826

$48.37 LBP 4.3M

-48.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,142

$139 LBP 12.5M

-32.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,469

$119 LBP 10.7M

-37.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

$945 LBP 84.6M

-48.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,620

$496 LBP 44.4M

-41.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.8K

$2,226 LBP 199.2M

-59.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

$1,057 LBP 94.6M

-50.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

$3,918 LBP 350.7M

-49.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

$1,871 LBP 167.4M

-22.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.1K

$716 LBP 64.1M

-16.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-49.36%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Beirut: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $490 in Chiang Mai and $945 in Beirut. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Beirut pays 19% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $20.00 in Chiang Mai vs $63.0 in Beirut for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $241 vs $277 per month, with Chiang Mai cheaper across the board.

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 Beirut: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 82% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 19% lower in Beirut. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $490 in Chiang Mai versus $945 in Beirut. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $932 per month in Chiang Mai versus $1,699 in Beirut – a 82% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Chiang Mai runs roughly 42% less than in Beirut. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $932 in Chiang Mai versus $1,699 in Beirut, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Beirut. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Chiang Mai is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Beirut, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Beirut are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Chiang Mai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 82% less than in Beirut. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.