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 $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,054 in Lezhe, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,558 in Lezhe, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,062 in Lezhe, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 18% cheaper than Lezhe, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chiang Mai and Lezhe are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Lezhe 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$5.23 ALL 428

-62.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$35.26 ALL 2,885

-47.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$3.50 ALL 286

123.43%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$0.96 ALL 78.5

103.13%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$1.45 ALL 119

-41.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.73 ALL 59.6

-52.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$1.38 ALL 113

54.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$2.39 ALL 196

56.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$2.04 ALL 167

-16.18%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.90 ALL 73.6

81.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$1.92 ALL 157

-40.63%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$2.96 ALL 242

-34.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$9.83 ALL 804

64.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$7.97 ALL 652

-60.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$13.05 ALL 1,068

-16.48%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$1.83 ALL 150

50.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$2.37 ALL 194

-48.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.74 ALL 142

-6.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$1.38 ALL 113

15.22%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$1.01 ALL 82.3

38.61%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$1.18 ALL 96.6

-0.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$1.14 ALL 93.0

-42.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.73 ALL 59.9

-27.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$4.10 ALL 335

14.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$10.12 ALL 828

84.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.66 ALL 136

8.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.83 ALL 149

76.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.45 ALL 36.62

100.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$18.54 ALL 1,517

3.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$3.56 ALL 291

-60.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$3.17 ALL 260

-59.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$17.61 ALL 1,440

-55.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$2.17 ALL 178

-41.47%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$35.0K ALL 2.9M

-39.14%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$25.1K ALL 2.0M

-11.35%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$67.7 ALL 5,541

1.98%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$17.30 ALL 1,415

-18.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$15.83 ALL 1,295

13.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$55.1 ALL 4,507

-25.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$25.15 ALL 2,057

-72.33%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$8.04 ALL 657

-26.37%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$177 ALL 14.5K

68.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$47.86 ALL 3,916

14.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$52.8 ALL 4,316

-49.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$94.5 ALL 7,734

-10.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$143 ALL 11.7K

-50.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$457 ALL 37.3K

-6.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$340 ALL 27.8K

-30.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$616 ALL 50.4K

30.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$442 ALL 36.2K

16.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$2,078 ALL 170.0K

-4.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$1,319 ALL 107.9K

11.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$615 ALL 50.3K

0.42%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Lezhe: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $457 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 0% higher in Chiang Mai, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $35.00 in Lezhe. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $246 – 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 22% 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,582 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 $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $177 in Lezhe. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 0% cheaper in Lezhe – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Lezhe at $1,054. 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 $866 versus $1,054 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.