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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $332 in Layyah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $511 in Layyah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $690 in Layyah, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 160% more than Layyah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Layyah are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Layyah 75% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$1.82 PKR 505

7.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$10.69 PKR 2,968

71.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$3.49 PKR 968

114.33%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.80 PKR 778

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.75 PKR 1,320

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$1.52 PKR 423

32.89%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$0.31 PKR 85.3

174.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$0.22 PKR 61.0

63.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$0.48 PKR 133

243.75%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$0.34 PKR 93.7

361.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$1.21 PKR 336

-1.65%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$1.08 PKR 300

79.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$5.91 PKR 1,641

173.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$2.36 PKR 655

26.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$3.03 PKR 841

261.06%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$0.69 PKR 191

292.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$0.34 PKR 94.3

244.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$0.67 PKR 186

152.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$0.49 PKR 136

226.53%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$0.35 PKR 96.8

294.29%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$0.55 PKR 151

118.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$0.59 PKR 164

13.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$0.34 PKR 93.6

64.71%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.01 PKR 279

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 PKR 206

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 PKR 561

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$1.90 PKR 528

144.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

$0.17 PKR 47.42

417.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

$6.91 PKR 1,918

179.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$1.09 PKR 303

24.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

$0.40 PKR 111

235.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$1.82 PKR 506

351.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$0.97 PKR 269

25.77%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$22.2K PKR 6.2M

-3.96%

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$21.4K PKR 5.9M

5.43%

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$58.9 PKR 16.3K

20.08%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$3.65 PKR 1,012

284.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$12.69 PKR 3,524

37.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

$12.44 PKR 3,453

238.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$6.00 PKR 1,667

14.67%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$3.46 PKR 961

71.10%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$17.34 PKR 4,814

1679.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$532 PKR 147.7K

2697.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$16.46 PKR 4,570

238.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$22.37 PKR 6,211

16.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$59.6 PKR 16.6K

39.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$25.89 PKR 7,188

172.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$75.7 PKR 21.0K

470.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

$51.6 PKR 14.3K

363.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$170 PKR 47.1K

384.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$107 PKR 29.7K

378.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$777 PKR 215.7K

146.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

$455 PKR 126.2K

222.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-72.22%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Layyah: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $75.7 in Layyah. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $11.00 in Layyah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $75.0 – making Layyah 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 Layyah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 160% more than Layyah, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $497 in Layyah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $17.34 in Layyah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 224% 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.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $861 in Chiang Mai and $332 in Layyah, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Layyah costs $332 versus $861 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 Layyah. 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.