Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Lome

For one person, living is cheaper in Lome: $560 a month against $936 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $4,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

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Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$936

/mo nomad

Lome

🇹🇬 Togo

$560

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Lome

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Lome actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $560 in Lome, rent included.

Chiang Mai $936
Lome $560

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $992 in Lome, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,457
Lome $992

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,424 in Lome, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,979
Lome $1,424

Chiang Mai costs about 67% more than Lome, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Lome are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Lome 59% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.24 ฿75.7

$2.86 F CFA 1,683

-21.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.00 ฿642

$30.57 F CFA 18.0K

-37.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.55 ฿188

$5.52 F CFA 3,250

0.54%

Cappuccino

$1.67 ฿56.6

$5.74 F CFA 3,382

-70.91%

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

$0.64 ฿21.56

$4.14 F CFA 2,436

-84.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.32

$0.75 F CFA 445

-58.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 ฿79.6

$0.90 F CFA 527

162.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿124

$1.73 F CFA 1,019

111.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ฿65.8

$2.30 F CFA 1,355

-15.22%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ฿48.51

$1.30 F CFA 764

10.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 ฿45.07

$1.48 F CFA 874

-10.14%

Eggs

$2.28 ฿77.1

$1.96 F CFA 1,156

16.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.45 ฿556

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.78 ฿94.0

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.31 ฿314

$5.49 F CFA 3,230

69.58%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 ฿79.5

$3.03 F CFA 1,787

-22.44%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 ฿32.82

$1.73 F CFA 1,017

-43.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 ฿53.9

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.7

$2.60 F CFA 1,529

-42.31%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿43.15

$1.74 F CFA 1,025

-26.44%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿37.22

$1.22 F CFA 717

-9.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿23.84

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.38

$0.84 F CFA 492

-41.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 ฿140

Wine (Bottle)

$17.52 ฿592

$4.70 F CFA 2,769

272.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 ฿54.5

$1.13 F CFA 668

42.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿94.0

$1.41 F CFA 832

97.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ฿29.33

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.1 ฿1,827

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 ฿39.08

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.82

$1.17 F CFA 691

-54.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿81.8

$4.35 F CFA 2,560

-44.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.93

$1.20 F CFA 707

20.83%

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

$21.1K ฿711.2K

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

$26.9K ฿909.8K

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

$62.2 ฿2,100

$146 F CFA 86.1K

-57.46%

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

$12.17 ฿411

$20.99 F CFA 12.4K

-42.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ฿680

$42.24 F CFA 24.9K

-52.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.31 ฿1,260

$60.1 F CFA 35.4K

-37.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿127

$8.71 F CFA 5,127

-56.72%

Cinema Ticket

$6.49 ฿219

$4.31 F CFA 2,540

50.58%

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

$736 ฿24.9K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿498.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 ฿1,802

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.64 ฿832

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.5 ฿3,089

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.9 ฿2,429

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 ฿10.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 ฿34.0K

$1,203 F CFA 708.3K

-16.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$633 ฿21.4K

$295 F CFA 173.8K

114.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,363 ฿79.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,589 ฿53.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$590 ฿19.9K

$295 F CFA 173.8K

99.76%

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: October 26, 2026

Last update for Lome: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$309 33%

Lome

–

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$234 25.1%

Lome

–

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$109 11.6%

Lome

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Lome

–

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$78 8.3%

Lome

–

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Lome

–

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Lome

–

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 100% higher in Chiang Mai. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $31 in Lome. Groceries tell a different story – $234 in Chiang Mai vs $140 in Lome – so Lome wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇹🇬 Lome

🕒 Local time

02:02 2:02 AM

19:02 7:02 PM

7 h behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

837,437 Capital

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

West African CFA Franc XOF Fr

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

1,000 XOF = 1.7 USD

1,000 XOF = 1.53 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

XOF, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 33.77 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.59 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

West African CFA Franc exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 589 XOF (1,000 XOF = 1.7 USD). 1 EUR = 656 XOF (1,000 XOF = 1.53 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Chiang Mai Lome 10,600 km ≈ 14 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Lome

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 67% more than Lome, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from clothing. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $840 in Lome. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $936 in Chiang Mai and $560 in Lome. That’s a gap of about 67%.

Groceries cost about 67% 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 $800 monthly budget goes further in Lome, where all-in costs run around $560, than in Chiang Mai at $936. In Lome it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $560 in Lome to $936 in Chiang Mai. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.