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 $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $972 in Korce, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,470 in Korce, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,968 in Korce, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 11% cheaper than Korce, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chiang Mai and Korce are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Korce 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$5.92 ALL 484

-66.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$29.92 ALL 2,444

-37.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$4.66 ALL 381

66.31%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$1.86 ALL 152

3.23%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$1.56 ALL 128

-49.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$0.88 ALL 71.7

-59.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$1.70 ALL 139

30.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$2.72 ALL 222

34.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$2.03 ALL 166

-18.72%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.82 ALL 66.8

98.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$1.95 ALL 159

-38.97%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$2.92 ALL 239

-31.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$9.69 ALL 791

64.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$7.60 ALL 621

-60.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$13.35 ALL 1,091

-18.65%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$0.85 ALL 69.1

224.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$2.20 ALL 180

-46.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$0.90 ALL 73.2

82.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$1.26 ALL 103

20.63%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$0.93 ALL 75.7

48.39%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$0.87 ALL 70.7

36.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$1.14 ALL 93.4

-38.60%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$0.72 ALL 58.7

-22.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$4.10 ALL 335

11.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

$9.96 ALL 814

66.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

$1.74 ALL 142

5.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

$1.79 ALL 146

78.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$0.49 ALL 39.82

79.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

$18.96 ALL 1,549

-1.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$3.52 ALL 288

-61.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$3.19 ALL 260

-57.99%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$17.38 ALL 1,420

-54.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$2.19 ALL 179

-43.84%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$35.1K ALL 2.9M

-38.33%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$25.3K ALL 2.1M

-10.97%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$66.4 ALL 5,421

6.31%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$17.51 ALL 1,431

-21.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$11.89 ALL 971

46.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$54.7 ALL 4,472

-24.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$25.36 ALL 2,072

-72.56%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$8.33 ALL 681

-30.73%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$94.9 ALL 7,756

223.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$40.89 ALL 3,341

36.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$35.17 ALL 2,874

-25.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$92.2 ALL 7,532

-7.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$139 ALL 11.3K

-47.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$434 ALL 35.5K

-1.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$267 ALL 21.8K

-10.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$604 ALL 49.3K

35.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$431 ALL 35.2K

18.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

$1,382 ALL 112.9K

43.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

$1,082 ALL 88.4K

37.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

$677 ALL 55.3K

-8.66%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Korce: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $434 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 9% 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 – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $232 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 12% 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 $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,458 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 $307 per month in Chiang Mai and $94.9 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.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $869, than in Korce at $972. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Korce it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $869 versus $972 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.