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 $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $337 in Layyah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $522 in Layyah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $708 in Layyah, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 157% more than Layyah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Layyah are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Layyah 75% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$1.82 PKR 505

6.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$10.80 PKR 3,004

72.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$3.49 PKR 972

124.07%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.77 PKR 771

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.79 PKR 1,331

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$1.45 PKR 402

34.48%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.33 PKR 92.4

157.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.24 PKR 66.9

45.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$0.48 PKR 134

256.25%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.34 PKR 94.1

379.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$1.25 PKR 348

-8.80%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$1.08 PKR 301

78.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$5.91 PKR 1,645

174.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$2.35 PKR 653

32.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$3.03 PKR 842

259.74%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$0.72 PKR 201

281.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$0.36 PKR 101

236.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$0.67 PKR 186

141.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$0.49 PKR 136

224.49%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$0.35 PKR 97.4

300.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$0.54 PKR 151

116.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$0.63 PKR 177

4.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.34 PKR 93.8

55.88%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.04 PKR 288

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 PKR 194

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 PKR 561

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$1.90 PKR 528

146.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.20 PKR 56.4

350.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$7.05 PKR 1,962

172.48%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$1.09 PKR 302

29.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$0.40 PKR 112

222.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$1.79 PKR 498

337.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$0.97 PKR 271

30.93%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$22.5K PKR 6.2M

-5.25%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$21.4K PKR 5.9M

3.91%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$57.9 PKR 16.1K

19.37%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$3.64 PKR 1,012

286.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$12.77 PKR 3,553

40.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$12.53 PKR 3,485

227.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$6.02 PKR 1,674

15.61%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$3.58 PKR 997

65.36%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$17.43 PKR 4,848

1615.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$523 PKR 145.6K

2756.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$16.06 PKR 4,468

240.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$22.05 PKR 6,134

21.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$60.5 PKR 16.8K

40.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$26.05 PKR 7,248

171.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$75.8 PKR 21.1K

465.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$51.8 PKR 14.4K

358.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$167 PKR 46.4K

380.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$104 PKR 29.0K

393.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$874 PKR 243.1K

125.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$500 PKR 139.1K

195.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Layyah: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $75.8 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $11.00 in Layyah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $76.0 – 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 157% 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $505 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 $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $17.43 in Layyah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 225% 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 $866 in Chiang Mai and $337 in Layyah, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Layyah costs $337 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 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.