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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $697 in Lautoka, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,222 in Lautoka, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,746 in Lautoka, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 24% more than Lautoka, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Chiang Mai and Lautoka are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Lautoka 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.6

$5.02 FJD 11.00

-61.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$45.40 FJD 99.4

-58.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿256

$6.61 FJD 14.48

18.31%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.9

$3.21 FJD 7.03

-39.25%

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

$0.85 ฿27.80

$1.31 FJD 2.87

-35.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.60

$0.67 FJD 1.46

-47.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.7

$2.41 FJD 5.28

-11.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$3.49 FJD 7.65

6.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.33 FJD 2.91

28.57%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.3

$0.53 FJD 1.17

207.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.18

$0.82 FJD 1.79

39.02%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.2

$3.22 FJD 7.04

-40.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$9.26 FJD 20.28

75.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$7.15 FJD 15.66

-56.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$7.50 FJD 16.43

45.33%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.1

$2.53 FJD 5.54

8.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.56

$2.51 FJD 5.49

-51.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$2.83 FJD 6.20

-42.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.9

$3.09 FJD 6.77

-48.54%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.75

$0.96 FJD 2.09

45.83%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.20

$0.95 FJD 2.08

23.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.62

$0.92 FJD 2.02

-28.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.24

$0.80 FJD 1.75

-33.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$9.42 FJD 20.63

-50.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿610

$5.55 FJD 12.14

236.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$2.24 FJD 4.90

-19.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.61 FJD 5.72

23.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.28

$0.70 FJD 1.53

28.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$37.66 FJD 82.5

-48.99%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.96

$0.64 FJD 1.39

120.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.16

$0.44 FJD 0.97

193.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$2.73 FJD 5.97

187.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.62

$1.34 FJD 2.93

-5.22%

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

$21.3K ฿695.5K

$19.3K FJD 42.3K

10.23%

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

$22.2K ฿726.1K

$22.4K FJD 49.1K

-0.89%

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

$69.1 ฿2,258

$46.45 FJD 102

48.70%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$12.98 FJD 28.43

8.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$23.91 FJD 52.4

-24.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,342

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$3.48 FJD 7.61

70.11%

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

$299 ฿9,775

$230 FJD 503

30.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.8K

$14.0K FJD 30.6K

6.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,788

$17.68 FJD 38.73

209.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿875

$17.50 FJD 38.32

52.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,778

$66.1 FJD 145

28.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,308

$60.3 FJD 132

17.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$354 FJD 776

20.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,759

$133 FJD 292

78.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$856 FJD 1,874

-6.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.9K

$393 FJD 862

31.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$712 FJD 1,560

-13.31%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-28.57%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Lautoka: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $354 in Lautoka. 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 15% higher in Lautoka, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $45.00 in Lautoka. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $221 in Lautoka – so Lautoka 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 Lautoka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 24% more than Lautoka, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,045 in Lautoka. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $230 in Lautoka. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 12% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $697 in Lautoka, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Lautoka costs $697 versus $866 in Chiang Mai. 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 Lautoka. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.