Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Lelydorp

For one person, living is cheaper in Lelydorp: $198 a month against $936 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $8,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
Learn more

Chiang Mai Living Index

Jump to prices

Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$936

/mo nomad

Lelydorp

🇸🇷 Suriname

$198

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Lelydorp

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Lelydorp actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $198 in Lelydorp, rent included.

Chiang Mai $936
Lelydorp $198

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $404 in Lelydorp, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,457
Lelydorp $404

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $610 in Lelydorp, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,979
Lelydorp $610

Chiang Mai costs about 372% more than Lelydorp, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Lelydorp are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Lelydorp 85% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.24 ฿75.6

$5.06 SRD 189

-55.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.00 ฿641

$35.04 SRD 1,310

-45.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.55 ฿187

$6.06 SRD 227

-8.42%

Cappuccino

$1.67 ฿56.5

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

$0.64 ฿21.55

$1.27 SRD 47.42

-49.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.31

$0.46 SRD 17.35

-32.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 ฿79.6

$1.99 SRD 74.4

18.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿124

$3.04 SRD 114

20.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ฿65.8

$1.18 SRD 44.05

65.25%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ฿48.48

$0.98 SRD 36.47

46.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 ฿45.04

$1.18 SRD 44.09

12.71%

Eggs

$2.28 ฿77.1

$2.79 SRD 104

-18.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.45 ฿555

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.78 ฿93.9

$3.88 SRD 145

-28.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.31 ฿314

$7.79 SRD 291

19.51%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 ฿79.4

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 ฿32.80

$1.47 SRD 54.8

-34.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 ฿53.9

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.6

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿43.12

$0.99 SRD 36.98

29.29%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿37.19

$0.98 SRD 36.74

12.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿23.82

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.37

$0.86 SRD 32.34

-43.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 ฿140

Wine (Bottle)

$17.52 ฿591

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 ฿54.5

$2.06 SRD 76.9

-21.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿94.0

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ฿29.31

$0.52 SRD 19.42

67.31%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.1 ฿1,826

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 ฿39.06

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.80

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿81.8

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.90

$0.88 SRD 33.08

64.77%

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

$21.1K ฿710.7K

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

$26.9K ฿909.3K

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

$62.2 ฿2,098

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

$12.17 ฿411

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ฿679

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.31 ฿1,259

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿127

Cinema Ticket

$6.49 ฿219

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

$736 ฿24.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿498.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 ฿1,801

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.64 ฿831

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.5 ฿3,087

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.9 ฿2,428

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 ฿10.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 ฿33.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$633 ฿21.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,363 ฿79.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,589 ฿53.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$590 ฿19.9K

$302 SRD 11.3K

95.53%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-67.24%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Last update for Lelydorp: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$309 33%

Lelydorp

–

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$234 25.1%

Lelydorp

–

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$109 11.6%

Lelydorp

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Lelydorp

–

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$78 8.3%

Lelydorp

–

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Lelydorp

–

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Lelydorp

–

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 96% 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 $19 in Chiang Mai versus $35 in Lelydorp. Groceries tell a different story – $234 in Chiang Mai vs $115 in Lelydorp – so Lelydorp wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇸🇷 Lelydorp

🕒 Local time

11:36 11:36 AM

01:36 1:36 AM

10 h behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

19,000

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Surinamese Dollar SRD $

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.65 EUR

100 SRD = 2.67 USD

100 SRD = 2.4 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

SRD, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 33.75 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.68 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

Surinamese Dollar exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 37.39 SRD (100 SRD = 2.67 USD). 1 EUR = 41.75 SRD (100 SRD = 2.4 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai Lelydorp 16,090 km ≈ 21 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Lelydorp

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 372% more than Lelydorp, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $297 in Lelydorp. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $936 in Chiang Mai and $198 in Lelydorp. That makes Lelydorp about 79% cheaper.

Groceries cost about 105% more in Chiang Mai, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A $800 monthly budget goes further in Lelydorp, where all-in costs run around $198, than in Chiang Mai at $936. In Lelydorp it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $198 in Lelydorp to $936 in Chiang Mai. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

If budget matters most, go with Lelydorp. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.