Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Gramsh

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $935 a month against $1,094 in Gramsh, rent and utilities included – about $1,900 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
52

Cost of Living Index in Gramsh
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Gramsh Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$935

/mo nomad

Gramsh

🇦🇱 Albania

$1,094

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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 Gramsh actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $935 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,094 in Gramsh, rent included.

Chiang Mai $935
Gramsh $1,094

A couple spends around $1,467 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,676 in Gramsh, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,467
Gramsh $1,676

A family of three spends $1,999 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,257 in Gramsh, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,999
Gramsh $2,257

Chiang Mai is about 15% cheaper than Gramsh, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Chiang Mai and Gramsh are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Gramsh 19% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.13 ฿71.8

$9.83 ALL 797

-78.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.62 ฿626

$38.88 ALL 3,151

-52.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.60 ฿188

$7.40 ALL 600

-24.32%

Cappuccino

$1.66 ฿55.9

$1.93 ALL 156

-13.99%

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

$0.65 ฿21.75

$1.80 ALL 146

-63.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ฿10.25

$0.64 ALL 52.2

-53.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 ฿78.1

$2.42 ALL 196

-4.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿123

$3.47 ALL 281

5.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.02 ฿67.8

$1.92 ALL 156

5.21%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ฿47.34

$0.94 ALL 76.0

50.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.79

$2.14 ALL 173

-35.05%

Eggs

$2.37 ฿79.6

$2.62 ALL 212

-9.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.52 ฿555

$10.41 ALL 844

58.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.67 ฿89.8

$8.44 ALL 684

-68.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.02 ฿303

$13.96 ALL 1,132

-35.39%

Apples (1kg)

$2.40 ฿80.6

$1.96 ALL 159

22.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 ฿35.01

$2.32 ALL 188

-55.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.66 ฿55.8

$1.66 ALL 135

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 ฿52.4

$1.60 ALL 130

-2.50%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.61

$1.05 ALL 85.0

18.10%

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.53

$1.23 ALL 100

-11.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 ฿25.61

$1.20 ALL 97.4

-36.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿17.29

$0.79 ALL 63.7

-35.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.12 ฿139

$4.24 ALL 343

-2.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.93 ฿603

$8.13 ALL 659

120.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 ฿54.6

$1.75 ALL 142

-7.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 ฿94.9

$1.89 ALL 154

49.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿31.42

$0.50 ALL 40.61

86.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$52.9 ฿1,778

$19.57 ALL 1,586

170.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ฿39.56

$3.82 ALL 310

-69.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.17 ฿5.76

$3.79 ALL 307

-95.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 ฿60.9

$18.83 ALL 1,527

-90.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ฿49.51

$2.17 ALL 176

-32.26%

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

$21.0K ฿706.4K

$34.0K ALL 2.8M

-38.15%

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

$26.5K ฿891.4K

$24.4K ALL 2.0M

8.62%

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

$62.6 ฿2,103

$60.3 ALL 4,890

3.70%

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

$11.60 ฿390

$16.99 ALL 1,377

-31.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.30 ฿683

$17.07 ALL 1,384

18.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.88 ฿1,274

$57.8 ALL 4,687

-34.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.70 ฿124

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 ฿219

$8.44 ALL 684

-22.87%

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

$727 ฿24.4K

$100 ALL 8,128

624.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.6K ฿557.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.5 ฿1,800

$49.30 ALL 3,996

8.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.80 ฿834

$55.1 ALL 4,461

-54.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.4 ฿3,039

$101 ALL 8,146

-10.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.0 ฿2,420

$150 ALL 12.2K

-52.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$481 ฿16.2K

$477 ALL 38.6K

0.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$310 ฿10.4K

$318 ALL 25.8K

-2.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,058 ฿35.6K

$708 ALL 57.4K

49.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$659 ฿22.1K

$465 ALL 37.7K

41.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,418 ฿81.3K

$1,984 ALL 160.8K

21.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,609 ฿54.1K

$1,284 ALL 104.1K

25.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿20.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

11.40%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: November 1, 2026

Last update for Gramsh: October 31, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$310 33.1%

Gramsh

$318 29.1% 2.7% $8.2

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$237 25.3%

Gramsh

$250 22.8% 5.6% $13

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$108 11.6%

Gramsh

$160 14.6% 47.6% $52

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Gramsh

$94 8.6% 0.1% $0.1

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$77 8.2%

Gramsh

$153 14% 99.5% $76

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$59 6.3%

Gramsh

$44 4.1% 24.4% $14

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$51 5.4%

Gramsh

$75 6.8% 46.8% $24

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $481 in Chiang Mai versus $477 in Gramsh. 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 $39 in Gramsh. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $237 vs $250 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇦🇱 Gramsh

🕒 Local time

20:09 8:09 PM

14:09 2:09 PM

6 h behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

8,400

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Albanian Lek ALL L

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.97 USD

100 THB = 2.65 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 November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 33.62 THB (100 THB = 2.97 USD). 1 EUR = 37.69 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

Albanian Lek exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 81.05 ALL (100 ALL = 1.23 USD). 1 EUR = 90.86 ALL (100 ALL = 1.1 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Chiang Mai Gramsh 7,730 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Gramsh

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 Gramsh: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Gramsh costs about 17% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,641 in Gramsh. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A central 1-bedroom goes for about $481 in Chiang Mai and $477 in Gramsh. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.

Kindergarten costs $727 per month in Chiang Mai and $100 in Gramsh. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 6% more in Gramsh, though the gap depends on what you buy.

$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $935 in Chiang Mai and $1,094 in Gramsh. 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 $935 in Chiang Mai to $1,094 in Gramsh. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.