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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $590 in Lome, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,024 in Lome, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,458 in Lome, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 61% more than Lome, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chiang Mai and Lome are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Lome 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$3.09 F CFA 1,743

-32.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$32.15 F CFA 18.2K

-38.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$5.64 F CFA 3,186

2.66%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$6.16 F CFA 3,481

-70.29%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$4.27 F CFA 2,413

-81.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$0.74 F CFA 415

-58.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$0.93 F CFA 527

151.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$1.79 F CFA 1,010

106.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$2.28 F CFA 1,291

-10.96%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$1.35 F CFA 762

18.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$1.52 F CFA 859

-6.58%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$2.02 F CFA 1,139

7.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$5.82 F CFA 3,288

69.59%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$3.14 F CFA 1,774

-16.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$1.75 F CFA 991

-37.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$2.62 F CFA 1,481

-41.60%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$1.73 F CFA 977

-28.32%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$1.22 F CFA 692

-7.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$0.92 F CFA 520

-45.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

$4.93 F CFA 2,783

264.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

$1.16 F CFA 658

46.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

$1.46 F CFA 827

98.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

$1.20 F CFA 681

-55.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

$4.42 F CFA 2,497

-45.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$1.19 F CFA 671

21.01%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$148 F CFA 83.8K

-56.22%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$22.34 F CFA 12.6K

-40.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$44.11 F CFA 24.9K

-52.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

$61.7 F CFA 34.8K

-34.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

$9.01 F CFA 5,090

-56.16%

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$4.51 F CFA 2,547

48.78%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

$1,224 F CFA 691.5K

-25.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$301 F CFA 170.3K

76.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

$309 F CFA 174.6K

95.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Lome: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 96% higher in Chiang Mai, 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 $32.00 in Lome. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $145 in Lome – so Lome wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Lome: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 61% more than Lome, 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 $885 in Lome. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $950 in Chiang Mai and $590 in Lome. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 68% more in Chiang Mai, 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 Lome, where all-in costs run around $590, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Lome it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Lome costs $590 versus $950 in Chiang Mai. 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 Lome. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.