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 $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $200 in Lelydorp, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $411 in Lelydorp, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $623 in Lelydorp, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 327% 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 ฿64.0

$5.01 SRD 188

-60.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$35.63 SRD 1,335

-47.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$6.17 SRD 231

28.36%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$1.22 SRD 45.60

-31.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.46 SRD 17.28

-23.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$2.02 SRD 75.6

9.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$3.05 SRD 114

24.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.21 SRD 45.47

35.54%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$0.99 SRD 37.00

63.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$1.19 SRD 44.51

-0.84%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$2.86 SRD 107

-29.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$3.98 SRD 149

-24.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$8.17 SRD 306

31.82%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$1.52 SRD 56.8

-19.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$0.98 SRD 36.70

34.69%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$0.98 SRD 36.62

19.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.84 SRD 31.32

-33.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$2.06 SRD 77.1

-11.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$0.48 SRD 18.13

85.42%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$0.87 SRD 32.50

45.98%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

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

$13.77 ฿450

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

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

$306 ฿10.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

$295 SRD 11.0K

115.57%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Lelydorp: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 116% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $36.00 in Lelydorp. Groceries tell a different story – $243 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 327% 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 $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $300 in Lelydorp. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $852 in Chiang Mai and $200 in Lelydorp. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 108% 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 $852 in Chiang Mai and $200 in Lelydorp, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Lelydorp costs $200 versus $852 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.