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 $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,088 in Lezhe, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,626 in Lezhe, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,164 in Lezhe, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 13% cheaper than Lezhe, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chiang Mai and Lezhe are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Lezhe 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.4

$5.57 ALL 440

-62.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$37.06 ALL 2,927

-46.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿192

$3.69 ALL 291

56.91%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.5

$0.99 ALL 78.3

84.85%

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

$0.78 ฿25.63

$1.49 ALL 118

-47.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.38

$0.69 ALL 54.7

-55.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.3

$1.47 ALL 116

59.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$2.54 ALL 200

45.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$1.99 ALL 157

2.01%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.8

$0.94 ALL 74.0

70.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.80

$2.06 ALL 162

-31.07%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿72.0

$2.74 ALL 216

-20.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$10.31 ALL 815

54.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$8.48 ALL 670

-63.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$14.50 ALL 1,146

-31.93%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.9

$2.00 ALL 158

31.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.23

$2.36 ALL 186

-53.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.9

$1.75 ALL 139

-6.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$1.63 ALL 128

-6.13%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.16

$1.08 ALL 85.3

14.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.40

$1.26 ALL 99.5

-10.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.41

$1.17 ALL 92.1

-36.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.50

$0.80 ALL 63.6

-37.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿142

$4.41 ALL 349

-2.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

$10.13 ALL 800

77.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.2

$1.79 ALL 141

-5.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.8

$1.84 ALL 146

57.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.15

$0.48 ALL 38.16

95.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,828

$20.41 ALL 1,612

170.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.80

$3.66 ALL 289

-66.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.67

$3.81 ALL 301

-86.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.4

$18.93 ALL 1,495

-87.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.60

$2.21 ALL 174

-34.84%

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

$21.2K ฿700.9K

$34.3K ALL 2.7M

-38.17%

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

$27.3K ฿903.0K

$25.2K ALL 2.0M

8.37%

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

$64.9 ฿2,147

$61.7 ALL 4,875

5.20%

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

$13.35 ฿442

$16.44 ALL 1,298

-18.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿689

$17.63 ALL 1,392

18.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,337

$57.8 ALL 4,568

-30.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$8.93 ALL 706

-24.86%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$186 ALL 14.7K

322.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿500.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,859

$49.47 ALL 3,907

13.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿825

$57.1 ALL 4,508

-56.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,066

$99.6 ALL 7,867

-6.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,484

$152 ALL 12.0K

-50.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$493 ALL 38.9K

-1.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,500

$337 ALL 26.6K

-14.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

$724 ALL 57.2K

25.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$484 ALL 38.2K

9.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.5K

$1,871 ALL 147.8K

5.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿48.0K

$1,278 ALL 101.0K

13.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

$633 ALL 50.0K

-4.31%

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: September 7, 2026

Last update for Lezhe: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $493 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 5% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $37.00 in Lezhe. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $258 – 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 14% 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 $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,632 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 $787 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 6% 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 $950, than in Lezhe at $1,088. 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 $950 versus $1,088 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.