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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,869 in Lidingo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,892 in Lidingo, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,915 in Lidingo, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 50% cheaper than Lidingo, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 32% below the global median, while Lidingo is 37% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.2

$14.40 SEK 141

-85.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿652

$73.0 SEK 717

-73.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$11.51 SEK 113

-50.74%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.0

$3.10 SEK 30.49

-41.61%

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

$0.77 ฿25.55

$2.44 SEK 23.96

-68.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.48

$2.57 SEK 25.25

-86.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.6

$6.57 SEK 64.6

-66.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

$5.71 SEK 56.1

-33.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.1

$1.45 SEK 14.28

41.38%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

$3.13 SEK 30.80

-51.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.51

$3.72 SEK 36.53

-62.37%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.1

$4.12 SEK 40.47

-45.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿538

$12.46 SEK 122

29.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.3

$13.26 SEK 130

-78.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿313

$23.12 SEK 227

-59.26%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.1

$3.24 SEK 31.88

-17.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.23

$2.51 SEK 24.66

-56.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

$3.78 SEK 37.10

-57.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.55

$4.22 SEK 41.48

-65.40%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.48

$2.05 SEK 20.12

-37.56%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.17

$1.94 SEK 19.07

-45.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.85

$2.31 SEK 22.69

-68.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.49

$1.58 SEK 15.51

-66.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$7.77 SEK 76.3

-45.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿608

$12.64 SEK 124

44.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.2

$1.43 SEK 14.00

13.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.5

$2.27 SEK 22.34

27.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.20

$3.49 SEK 34.31

-74.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,788

$78.7 SEK 773

-31.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿38.99

$3.60 SEK 35.38

-67.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.22

$2.94 SEK 28.84

-80.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.3

$84.8 SEK 833

-97.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.22

$1.89 SEK 18.56

-23.28%

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

$21.0K ฿698.6K

$34.3K SEK 337.3K

-38.80%

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

$26.4K ฿878.6K

$34.6K SEK 339.5K

-23.53%

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

$63.7 ฿2,116

$191 SEK 1,880

-66.74%

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

$12.89 ฿429

$23.36 SEK 230

-44.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿682

$45.63 SEK 448

-55.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,297

$38.99 SEK 383

0.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

$25.81 SEK 254

-84.81%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$17.25 SEK 169

-61.86%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

$157 SEK 1,545

398.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿487.9K

$5,196 SEK 51.0K

182.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,833

$106 SEK 1,046

-48.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿823

$41.03 SEK 403

-39.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,130

$91.9 SEK 903

2.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,459

$144 SEK 1,415

-48.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

$844 SEK 8,290

-41.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,582

$610 SEK 5,997

-52.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.6K

$1,386 SEK 13.6K

-35.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

$1,066 SEK 10.5K

-51.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.6K

$4,140 SEK 40.7K

-52.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.0K

$2,973 SEK 29.2K

-51.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

$2,592 SEK 25.5K

-76.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

3.53

57.79%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Lidingo: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $844 in Lidingo. 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 331% higher in Lidingo, 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 $73.0 in Lidingo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $393 – 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 Lidingo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lidingo costs about 100% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,804 in Lidingo. 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 $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $157 in Lidingo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 63% more in Lidingo, 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 $932, than in Lidingo at $1,869. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lidingo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $932 versus $1,869 in Lidingo. 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, Lidingo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.