Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Lihir Island Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Lihir Island

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 123.2% more expensive than Lihir Island without rent, and 251.4% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 103% more expensive than Lihir Island without rent, and 182.2% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.97 ฿62.0

$4.78 PGK 20.41

-58.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.68 ฿587

$28.76 PGK 123

-35.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿249

$6.06 PGK 25.87

30.69%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿63.7

$2.43 PGK 10.36

-16.87%

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

$0.84 ฿26.45

$0.69 PGK 2.96

21.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.07

$0.70 PGK 3.01

-50.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.22 ฿69.9

$3.61 PGK 15.42

-38.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿113

$2.35 PGK 10.05

52.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.67 ฿52.4

$1.70 PGK 7.26

-1.76%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿51.1

$1.42 PGK 6.04

14.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿37.83

$1.40 PGK 6.00

-14.29%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿60.8

$2.34 PGK 10.00

-17.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.00 ฿503

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.16 ฿99.2

$4.40 PGK 18.79

-28.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.93 ฿344

$2.44 PGK 10.41

347.95%

Apples (1kg)

$2.67 ฿83.8

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿36.99

$1.47 PGK 6.27

-19.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿51.5

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿49.83

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿41.64

$2.39 PGK 10.19

-44.77%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿37.49

$0.98 PGK 4.19

21.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿22.20

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿17.75

$0.50 PGK 2.13

12.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿146

$6.02 PGK 25.71

-22.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.96 ฿596

$9.22 PGK 39.35

105.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 ฿55.7

$2.37 PGK 10.12

-25.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿101

$2.45 PGK 10.46

30.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿28.32

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.24 ฿605

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿42.78

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿42.37

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.15 ฿256

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿38.43

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

$21.4K ฿671.8K

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

$21.7K ฿683.8K

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

$70.3 ฿2,210

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

$13.91 ฿437

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿566

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.78 ฿1,314

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.80 ฿214

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿180

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

$308 ฿9,693

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿465.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.9 ฿1,756

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.71 ฿840

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,658

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.8 ฿2,227

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$431 ฿13.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,439

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$811 ฿25.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$501 ฿15.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,202 ฿69.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,600 ฿50.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$684 ฿21.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: January 13, 2026

Last update for Lihir Island: January 12, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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