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 $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,047 in Lome, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,533 in Lome, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,020 in Lome, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 17% cheaper than Lome, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Lome are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Lome 22% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$2.15 F CFA 1,216

-9.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$31.22 F CFA 17.6K

-40.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$5.38 F CFA 3,036

45.35%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$5.61 F CFA 3,168

-65.24%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$3.46 F CFA 1,953

-75.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$1.11 F CFA 627

-68.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$0.84 F CFA 477

153.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$1.71 F CFA 964

118.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$2.48 F CFA 1,397

-31.05%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$1.33 F CFA 748

22.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$1.83 F CFA 1,035

-37.70%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$2.10 F CFA 1,184

-8.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$14.13 F CFA 7,975

14.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$8.41 F CFA 4,748

-62.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$9.44 F CFA 5,326

15.47%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$2.71 F CFA 1,530

1.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$1.50 F CFA 845

-19.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$2.62 F CFA 1,481

-38.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$2.48 F CFA 1,402

-35.89%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$1.79 F CFA 1,012

-21.79%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$1.74 F CFA 981

-32.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$0.50 F CFA 284

32.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.85 F CFA 482

-37.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$1.44 F CFA 815

225.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$4.87 F CFA 2,748

283.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.33 F CFA 749

35.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.51 F CFA 855

113.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.36 F CFA 204

150.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$53.3 F CFA 30.1K

-63.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$2.13 F CFA 1,203

-33.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$0.69 F CFA 389

86.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$5.21 F CFA 2,938

50.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$1.25 F CFA 704

1.60%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$14.1K F CFA 7.9M

51.35%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$26.0K F CFA 14.7M

-14.46%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$173 F CFA 97.5K

-60.04%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$21.89 F CFA 12.4K

-35.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$44.32 F CFA 25.0K

-59.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$49.54 F CFA 28.0K

-17.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$8.63 F CFA 4,871

-19.35%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$4.33 F CFA 2,444

36.72%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$177 F CFA 99.9K

68.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$5,103 F CFA 2.9M

193.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$24.39 F CFA 13.8K

124.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$27.26 F CFA 15.4K

-1.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$42.14 F CFA 23.8K

101.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$94.0 F CFA 53.0K

-24.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$360 F CFA 202.9K

19.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$224 F CFA 126.2K

6.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$765 F CFA 431.8K

4.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$299 F CFA 169.0K

72.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$267 F CFA 150.6K

131.46%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Lome: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $360 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 131% 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 $31.00 in Lome. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 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 21% 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,570 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 $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $177 in Lome. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 2% more in Lome, 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 $866, than in Lome at $1,047. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lome it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $1,047 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.