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 $847 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,034 in Lome, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,332 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,516 in Lome, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,816 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,999 in Lome, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 18% cheaper than Lome, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Lome are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 37% lower, Lome 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.03 ฿68.4

$2.10 F CFA 1,206

-3.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿631

$31.74 F CFA 18.2K

-41.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.84 ฿264

$5.32 F CFA 3,060

47.37%

Cappuccino

$1.93 ฿65.0

$5.70 F CFA 3,276

-66.14%

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

$0.83 ฿28.01

$3.42 F CFA 1,967

-75.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.81

$1.11 F CFA 639

-68.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.22 ฿74.8

$0.91 F CFA 525

143.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿128

$1.79 F CFA 1,026

111.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$2.51 F CFA 1,442

-34.26%

White Bread (500g)

$1.55 ฿52.3

$1.31 F CFA 754

18.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿39.82

$1.86 F CFA 1,071

-36.56%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿67.9

$1.98 F CFA 1,141

1.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.16 ฿545

$14.21 F CFA 8,168

13.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿102

$8.62 F CFA 4,953

-64.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.84 ฿365

$8.99 F CFA 5,170

20.58%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿90.3

$2.69 F CFA 1,545

-0.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿41.16

$1.43 F CFA 821

-14.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿54.8

$2.68 F CFA 1,543

-39.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿51.5

$2.48 F CFA 1,424

-38.31%

Potato (1kg)

$1.34 ฿45.13

$1.79 F CFA 1,030

-25.14%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 ฿40.88

$1.72 F CFA 991

-29.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿23.65

$0.52 F CFA 297

34.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.71

$0.86 F CFA 493

-38.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿158

$1.40 F CFA 802

235.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.71 ฿597

$4.58 F CFA 2,630

286.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 ฿62.2

$1.38 F CFA 791

34.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.21 ฿108

$1.49 F CFA 856

115.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿30.03

$0.34 F CFA 195

161.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.76 ฿632

$52.2 F CFA 30.0K

-64.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.43

$2.03 F CFA 1,166

-30.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿43.54

$0.72 F CFA 415

79.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.79 ฿263

$5.34 F CFA 3,068

45.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 ฿43.61

$1.23 F CFA 710

4.88%

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

$21.8K ฿733.8K

$13.9K F CFA 8.0M

57.02%

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

$21.7K ฿731.2K

$25.6K F CFA 14.7M

-15.12%

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

$70.0 ฿2,359

$173 F CFA 99.6K

-59.61%

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

$14.19 ฿478

$22.24 F CFA 12.8K

-36.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.42 ฿587

$43.67 F CFA 25.1K

-60.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.64 ฿1,404

$50.5 F CFA 29.0K

-17.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.89 ฿232

$8.63 F CFA 4,962

-20.16%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿195

$4.35 F CFA 2,499

32.87%

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

$300 ฿10.1K

$179 F CFA 102.8K

67.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.5K ฿489.5K

$5,212 F CFA 3.0M

178.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.4 ฿1,866

$24.39 F CFA 14.0K

126.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.31 ฿887

$27.48 F CFA 15.8K

-4.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,860

$40.81 F CFA 23.5K

107.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,376

$95.9 F CFA 55.1K

-26.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$425 ฿14.3K

$364 F CFA 209.3K

16.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$235 ฿7,924

$223 F CFA 128.1K

5.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$802 ฿27.0K

$750 F CFA 430.9K

7.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$516 ฿17.4K

$302 F CFA 173.6K

70.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,926 ฿64.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿48.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$586 ฿19.8K

$258 F CFA 148.3K

127.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-37.50%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 20, 2026

Last update for Lome: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $425 in Chiang Mai versus $364 in Lome. 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 127% higher in Chiang Mai, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $32.00 in Lome. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $252 – 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 Lome: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lome costs about 22% 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 $1,271 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,550 in Lome. 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 $300 per month in Chiang Mai and $179 in Lome. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 4% more in Lome, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $847 in Chiang Mai and $1,034 in Lome, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $847 versus $1,034 in Lome. 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, Lome makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.