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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $950 in Korce, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,463 in Korce, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,976 in Korce, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 10% cheaper than Korce, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chiang Mai and Korce are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Korce 29% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.2

$6.04 ALL 491

-66.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿624

$29.51 ALL 2,397

-36.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿262

$4.70 ALL 382

67.23%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.7

$1.88 ALL 152

7.98%

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

$0.80 ฿26.64

$1.56 ALL 127

-48.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.68

$0.88 ALL 71.1

-60.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.5

$1.79 ALL 146

19.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿122

$2.72 ALL 221

34.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.6

$2.05 ALL 167

-15.61%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.4

$0.80 ALL 64.8

96.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿39.99

$2.03 ALL 165

-40.89%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿65.8

$3.03 ALL 246

-34.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿541

$9.99 ALL 811

62.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$7.65 ALL 622

-60.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿360

$13.44 ALL 1,092

-19.64%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.3

$0.84 ALL 67.9

229.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.94

$2.23 ALL 181

-47.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.0

$0.90 ALL 73.1

90.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.2

$1.24 ALL 101

28.23%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.51

$0.96 ALL 78.0

44.79%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.56

$0.89 ALL 72.1

30.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.05

$1.15 ALL 93.7

-42.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.31

$0.76 ALL 61.5

-31.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$3.96 ALL 321

17.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿593

$9.46 ALL 769

87.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.6

$1.70 ALL 138

5.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿111

$1.80 ALL 146

85.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.27

$0.45 ALL 36.46

102.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿622

$19.18 ALL 1,559

-2.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.04

$3.44 ALL 280

-59.01%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.70

$3.12 ALL 253

-57.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿270

$17.89 ALL 1,453

-54.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.16

$2.17 ALL 177

-43.32%

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

$21.4K ฿715.1K

$35.0K ALL 2.8M

-38.82%

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

$21.8K ฿728.0K

$25.0K ALL 2.0M

-12.78%

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

$71.3 ฿2,379

$68.3 ALL 5,547

4.48%

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

$14.01 ฿467

$17.67 ALL 1,436

-20.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿598

$11.68 ALL 949

53.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,362

$55.3 ALL 4,494

-26.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

$25.10 ALL 2,039

-72.59%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$8.35 ALL 678

-31.50%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$93.2 ALL 7,573

230.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,860

$41.02 ALL 3,333

35.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿869

$34.29 ALL 2,786

-24.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,829

$91.2 ALL 7,411

-7.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,368

$142 ALL 11.6K

-50.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.1K

$431 ALL 35.1K

-1.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,088

$273 ALL 22.2K

-11.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.6K

$601 ALL 48.8K

32.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿16.9K

$441 ALL 35.9K

14.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.0K

$1,410 ALL 114.5K

36.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿48.8K

$1,104 ALL 89.7K

32.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

$663 ALL 53.9K

-10.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

25.00%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026

Last update for Korce: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $431 in Korce. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 11% higher in Korce, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $30.00 in Korce. Groceries tell a different story – $244 in Chiang Mai vs $234 in Korce – so Korce wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Korce: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Korce costs about 11% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,425 in Korce. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $308 per month in Chiang Mai and $93.2 in Korce. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 4% cheaper in Korce – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $950 in Korce, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $950 in Korce. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Korce makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.