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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 12.5% more expensive than Lae without rent, and 29.9% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 8.7% cheaper than Lae without rent, and 35% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿62.8

$10.58 PGK 43.2

-81.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.36 ฿594

$54.3 PGK 222

-66.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.78 ฿252

Cappuccino

$1.96 ฿63.3

$2.81 PGK 11.48

-30.25%

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

$0.83 ฿27.01

$0.85 PGK 3.47

-2.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.44

$0.63 PGK 2.55

-44.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.1 ฿67.9

$3.51 PGK 14.33

-40.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 ฿121

$5.81 PGK 23.71

-35.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.69 ฿54.8

$2.21 PGK 9.01

-23.53%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿52.6

$1.58 PGK 6.46

3.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.2 ฿38.83

$1.42 PGK 5.78

-15.49%

Eggs

$1.99 ฿64.5

$4.19 PGK 17.12

-52.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.97 ฿517

$10.21 PGK 41.67

56.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.14 ฿102

$9.69 PGK 39.57

-67.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿354

$11.3 PGK 46.15

-3.19%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿86.6

$4.79 PGK 19.55

-44.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿37.97

$2.91 PGK 11.89

-59.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿52.6

$6.4 PGK 26.14

-74.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.54 ฿49.78

$1.67 PGK 6.81

-7.78%

Potato (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.23

$3.61 PGK 14.75

-62.88%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿37.78

$2.54 PGK 10.36

-53.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.52

$0.74 PGK 3.01

-9.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.09

$0.94 PGK 3.83

-40.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.57 ฿148

$7.22 PGK 29.46

-36.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.42 ฿596

$13.11 PGK 53.5

40.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿57.9

$2.72 PGK 11.09

-34.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 ฿106

$4.54 PGK 18.54

-27.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.96 ฿31.19

$0.37 PGK 1.52

159.46%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.98 ฿614

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿43.78

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.3 ฿42.14

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.24 ฿267

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ฿39.97

$1.12 PGK 4.58

10.71%

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

$21.6K ฿699.5K

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

$21.8K ฿706.1K

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

$70.2 ฿2,272

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

$14.18 ฿459

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.88 ฿579

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.29 ฿1,369

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.73 ฿218

Cinema Ticket

$5.7 ฿185

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

$308 ฿9,969

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿487.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.3 ฿1,822

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.3 ฿851

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.7 ฿2,742

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,336

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$434 ฿14.1K

$7,910 PGK 32.3K

-94.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$243 ฿7,854

$763 PGK 3,115

-68.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$807 ฿26.1K

$1,445 PGK 5,898

-44.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$499 ฿16.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,195 ฿71K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,560 ฿50.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$683 ฿22.1K

$165 PGK 672

314.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: November 3, 2025

Last update for Lae: November 2, 2025

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