Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Lezhe

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $936 a month against $991 in Lezhe, rent and utilities included – about $660 less a year. The total is higher in Lezhe despite lower rent and utilities.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index
49

Cost of Living Index in Lezhe
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Lezhe Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$936

/mo nomad

Lezhe

🇦🇱 Albania

$991

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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 Lezhe actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $991 in Lezhe, rent included.

Chiang Mai $936
Lezhe $991

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,569 in Lezhe, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,457
Lezhe $1,569

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,148 in Lezhe, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,979
Lezhe $2,148

Chiang Mai is about 6% cheaper than Lezhe, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Chiang Mai and Lezhe are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Lezhe 27% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.24 ฿75.5

$5.51 ALL 449

-59.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.00 ฿640

$36.39 ALL 2,964

-47.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.55 ฿187

$3.75 ALL 305

48.00%

Cappuccino

$1.67 ฿56.4

$1.03 ALL 83.6

62.14%

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

$0.64 ฿21.51

$1.50 ALL 122

-57.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.29

$0.64 ALL 52.1

-51.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 ฿79.5

$1.47 ALL 120

60.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿123

$2.42 ALL 197

51.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ฿65.7

$1.96 ALL 160

-0.51%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ฿48.41

$0.98 ALL 79.5

46.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 ฿44.97

$2.12 ALL 173

-37.26%

Eggs

$2.28 ฿77.0

$2.74 ALL 223

-16.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.45 ฿554

$10.16 ALL 827

61.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.78 ฿93.8

$8.41 ALL 685

-66.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.31 ฿314

$14.09 ALL 1,147

-33.92%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 ฿79.3

$1.95 ALL 159

20.51%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 ฿32.75

$2.33 ALL 190

-58.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 ฿53.8

$1.65 ALL 134

-3.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.6

$1.63 ALL 133

-7.98%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿43.06

$1.06 ALL 86.0

20.75%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿37.14

$1.26 ALL 102

-12.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿23.79

$1.19 ALL 97.0

-40.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.34

$0.83 ALL 67.7

-40.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 ฿140

$4.33 ALL 353

-4.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.52 ฿590

$8.07 ALL 657

117.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 ฿54.4

$1.76 ALL 143

-8.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿93.8

$1.85 ALL 151

50.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ฿29.27

$0.47 ALL 37.94

85.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.1 ฿1,823

$21.92 ALL 1,785

146.76%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 ฿39.00

$3.79 ALL 309

-69.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.78

$3.95 ALL 322

-86.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿81.6

$18.23 ALL 1,485

-86.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.82

$2.29 ALL 187

-36.68%

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

$21.1K ฿709.7K

$33.4K ALL 2.7M

-36.92%

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

$26.9K ฿907.9K

$25.0K ALL 2.0M

7.79%

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

$62.2 ฿2,095

$62.2 ALL 5,065

-0.03%

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

$12.17 ฿410

$16.72 ALL 1,362

-27.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ฿678

$17.44 ALL 1,421

15.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.31 ฿1,257

$57.5 ALL 4,685

-35.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿127

Cinema Ticket

$6.49 ฿219

$8.87 ALL 723

-26.83%

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

$736 ฿24.8K

$186 ALL 15.2K

295.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿497.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 ฿1,799

$49.07 ALL 3,997

8.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.64 ฿830

$55.5 ALL 4,520

-55.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.5 ฿3,083

$98.6 ALL 8,028

-7.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.9 ฿2,424

$147 ALL 11.9K

-50.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.3K

$415 ALL 33.8K

16.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 ฿10.4K

$275 ALL 22.4K

12.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 ฿33.9K

$761 ALL 62.0K

32.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$633 ฿21.3K

$493 ALL 40.2K

28.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,363 ฿79.6K

$2,221 ALL 180.9K

6.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,589 ฿53.6K

$1,298 ALL 105.7K

22.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$590 ฿19.9K

$623 ALL 50.7K

-5.30%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

11.40%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Last update for Lezhe: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$309 33%

Lezhe

$275 27.7% 11.1% $34

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$234 25.1%

Lezhe

$251 25.4% 7.2% $17

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$109 11.6%

Lezhe

$157 15.9% 44.9% $49

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Lezhe

$96 9.7% 2% $1.9

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$78 8.3%

Lezhe

$88 8.9% 13.9% $11

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Lezhe

$47 4.8% 22.8% $14

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Lezhe

$75 7.6% 49.7% $25

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Chiang Mai versus $415 in Lezhe. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 6% higher in Lezhe, 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 $36 in Lezhe. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $234 vs $251 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇦🇱 Lezhe

🕒 Local time

20:04 8:04 PM

14:04 2:04 PM

6 h behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

65,633

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Albanian Lek ALL L

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.97 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

100 ALL = 1.23 USD

100 ALL = 1.1 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

ALL, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 33.7 THB (100 THB = 2.97 USD). 1 EUR = 37.61 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Albanian Lek exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 81.44 ALL (100 ALL = 1.23 USD). 1 EUR = 90.88 ALL (100 ALL = 1.1 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Chiang Mai Lezhe 7,760 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Lezhe

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 Lezhe: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lezhe costs about 6% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from clothing. 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 $1,486 in Lezhe. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Lezhe, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $415 there versus $482 in Chiang Mai.

Kindergarten costs $736 per month in Chiang Mai and $186 in Lezhe. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 7% more in Lezhe, though the gap depends on what you buy.

$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $936 in Chiang Mai and $991 in Lezhe. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $936 in Chiang Mai to $991 in Lezhe. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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