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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,043 in Lezhe, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,562 in Lezhe, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,080 in Lezhe, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 17% cheaper than Lezhe, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chiang Mai and Lezhe are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Lezhe 22% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.9

$5.31 ALL 433

-63.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$35.24 ALL 2,874

-47.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$3.60 ALL 294

107.78%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$0.98 ALL 79.8

106.12%

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

$0.85 ฿28.52

$1.43 ALL 117

-40.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.97

$0.68 ALL 55.8

-47.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.9

$1.42 ALL 116

50.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$2.33 ALL 190

54.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$2.06 ALL 168

-19.90%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$0.93 ALL 75.7

68.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.05

$1.95 ALL 159

-38.97%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$3.04 ALL 248

-36.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿545

$9.64 ALL 786

67.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$7.62 ALL 622

-60.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$13.14 ALL 1,072

-16.74%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$1.82 ALL 148

48.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.27

$2.38 ALL 194

-50.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.8

$1.74 ALL 142

-2.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$1.32 ALL 108

21.21%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.56

$1.05 ALL 86.0

31.43%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.47

$1.24 ALL 101

-3.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.51

$1.10 ALL 90.0

-39.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.74

$0.72 ALL 59.1

-22.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$3.97 ALL 324

16.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$10.12 ALL 825

74.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.6

$1.73 ALL 141

7.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$1.81 ALL 148

82.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.70

$0.46 ALL 37.32

91.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿651

$19.16 ALL 1,563

0.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.92

$3.59 ALL 293

-62.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿45.00

$3.09 ALL 252

-56.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$17.46 ALL 1,424

-52.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.20

$2.13 ALL 174

-42.72%

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

$21.4K ฿718.5K

$35.0K ALL 2.9M

-38.98%

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

$22.5K ฿758.1K

$25.4K ALL 2.1M

-11.44%

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

$70.7 ฿2,378

$68.5 ALL 5,585

3.20%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$17.12 ALL 1,396

-17.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿589

$15.73 ALL 1,282

11.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,418

$54.4 ALL 4,433

-22.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$25.23 ALL 2,057

-72.73%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$8.33 ALL 679

-28.93%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$176 ALL 14.4K

75.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,876

$47.84 ALL 3,901

16.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿879

$53.6 ALL 4,374

-51.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,793

$95.0 ALL 7,747

-12.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,371

$144 ALL 11.7K

-50.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$443 ALL 36.1K

-2.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,040

$343 ALL 28.0K

-30.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$616 ALL 50.2K

33.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$436 ALL 35.5K

17.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$1,723 ALL 140.5K

11.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.4K

$1,389 ALL 113.3K

5.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$605 ALL 49.4K

-4.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

25.00%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Lezhe: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $443 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 4% 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $35.00 in Lezhe. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $244 – making Chiang Mai 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 Lezhe: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lezhe costs about 21% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,564 in Lezhe. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $176 in Lezhe. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 0% more in Lezhe, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $861, than in Lezhe at $1,043. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lezhe it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $861 versus $1,043 in Lezhe. 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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lezhe makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.