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 $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,046 in Korce, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,554 in Korce, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,061 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 32% lower, Korce 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.5

$6.38 ALL 504

-67.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿655

$39.14 ALL 3,092

-49.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$6.13 ALL 484

-7.50%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.3

$2.00 ALL 158

-9.50%

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

$0.77 ฿25.65

$1.95 ALL 154

-60.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.53

$0.65 ALL 51.6

-46.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.9

$2.49 ALL 197

-11.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

$2.46 ALL 194

54.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.4

$2.00 ALL 158

2.50%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.6

$0.99 ALL 78.4

52.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.69

$2.13 ALL 169

-34.27%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

$2.74 ALL 216

-17.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

$10.51 ALL 830

54.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.7

$8.84 ALL 698

-67.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$14.70 ALL 1,161

-35.92%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.4

$1.29 ALL 102

107.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.37

$2.28 ALL 180

-52.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.0

$1.25 ALL 99.0

29.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.74

$1.66 ALL 131

-12.05%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.65

$1.11 ALL 87.3

15.32%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.31

$1.07 ALL 84.6

-0.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.94

$1.08 ALL 85.0

-33.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.56

$0.83 ALL 65.7

-36.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$4.28 ALL 338

-1.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿611

$9.93 ALL 784

84.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$1.77 ALL 140

-7.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.8

$1.85 ALL 146

56.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.32

$0.61 ALL 48.47

44.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

$18.64 ALL 1,473

188.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.14

$3.73 ALL 295

-68.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.30

$3.86 ALL 305

-84.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

$19.06 ALL 1,506

-87.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.41

$2.19 ALL 173

-33.79%

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

$21.0K ฿701.4K

$34.4K ALL 2.7M

-38.83%

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

$26.4K ฿882.0K

$25.4K ALL 2.0M

3.88%

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

$63.7 ฿2,125

$63.6 ALL 5,023

0.11%

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

$12.89 ฿430

$18.53 ALL 1,464

-30.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿685

$15.78 ALL 1,247

30.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,302

$34.73 ALL 2,744

12.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

$18.58 ALL 1,468

-78.90%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿220

$10.20 ALL 806

-35.49%

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

$784 ฿26.2K

$227 ALL 17.9K

246.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,840

$45.96 ALL 3,631

19.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿826

$54.4 ALL 4,298

-54.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,142

$107 ALL 8,465

-12.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,469

$148 ALL 11.7K

-50.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

$498 ALL 39.3K

-1.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,620

$298 ALL 23.6K

-3.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.8K

$508 ALL 40.2K

75.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

$319 ALL 25.2K

63.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

$1,429 ALL 112.9K

38.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

$1,129 ALL 89.2K

27.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.1K

$684 ALL 54.1K

-12.08%

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: September 13, 2026

Last update for Korce: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $498 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 14% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $39.00 in Korce. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $255 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,569 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 $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $227 in Korce. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 6% more in Korce, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $932, than in Korce at $1,046. 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 $932 versus $1,046 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.