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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $848 per month in Chiang Mai vs $201 in Lelydorp, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,331 per month in Chiang Mai vs $412 in Lelydorp, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,814 per month in Chiang Mai vs $624 in Lelydorp, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 322% more than Lelydorp, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Lelydorp are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Lelydorp 85% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.1

$4.87 SRD 182

-59.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.39 ฿603

$34.38 SRD 1,284

-46.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.87 ฿258

$6.16 SRD 230

27.76%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.9

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

$0.85 ฿27.80

$1.23 SRD 45.90

-30.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.61

$0.43 SRD 16.20

-25.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿70.2

$2.04 SRD 76.0

4.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 ฿121

$3.06 SRD 114

20.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ฿54.4

$1.21 SRD 45.35

37.19%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 ฿51.1

$0.98 SRD 36.59

59.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.95

$1.23 SRD 45.86

-3.25%

Eggs

$1.99 ฿65.2

$2.74 SRD 102

-27.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.24 ฿532

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ฿104

$4.07 SRD 152

-22.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.84 ฿355

$8.07 SRD 302

34.32%

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 ฿87.0

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿40.00

$1.53 SRD 57.0

-20.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 ฿54.1

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 ฿50.7

Potato (1kg)

$1.33 ฿43.53

$0.98 SRD 36.61

35.71%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.75

$1.02 SRD 38.11

18.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ฿22.22

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ฿18.54

$0.88 SRD 33.01

-35.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.68 ฿154

Wine (Bottle)

$16.99 ฿557

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 ฿59.8

$1.95 SRD 72.8

-6.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ฿104

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿29.70

$0.52 SRD 19.60

75.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.74 ฿614

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿46.18

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.88

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.14 ฿267

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 ฿41.88

$0.88 SRD 32.89

45.45%

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

$21.8K ฿715.2K

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

$22.4K ฿734.1K

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

$70.5 ฿2,310

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

$14.05 ฿460

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.65 ฿578

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.29 ฿1,353

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.76 ฿222

Cinema Ticket

$5.96 ฿195

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

$303 ฿9,928

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿490.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,793

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.29 ฿861

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,811

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.7 ฿2,284

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,834

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$811 ฿26.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$510 ฿16.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,025 ฿66.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,502 ฿49.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$623 ฿20.4K

$298 SRD 11.1K

108.62%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-70.59%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 13, 2026

Last update for Lelydorp: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 109% higher in Chiang Mai, 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $34.00 in Lelydorp. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $117 in Lelydorp – so Lelydorp 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 Lelydorp: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 322% more than Lelydorp, 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 $1,272 per month in Chiang Mai and $301 in Lelydorp. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $848 in Chiang Mai and $201 in Lelydorp. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 107% 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.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $848 in Chiang Mai and $201 in Lelydorp, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Lelydorp costs $201 versus $848 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 Lelydorp. 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.