Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Luang Prabang Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Luang Prabang

🙂 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 12.2% cheaper than Luang Prabang without rent, and 44.1% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 13.4% cheaper than Luang Prabang without rent, and 41.8% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Luang Prabang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.94 ฿62.8
$1.84 LAK 39.6K
5.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.36 ฿594
$17.97 LAK 385.7K
2.17%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.78 ฿252
$5.7 LAK 122.3K
36.49%
Cappuccino
$1.96 ฿63.3
$1.55 LAK 33.4K
26.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 ฿27.01
$0.94 LAK 20.2K
-11.70%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.44
$0.6 LAK 12.8K
-41.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.1 ฿67.9
$1.36 LAK 29.2K
54.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75 ฿121
$1.17 LAK 25.2K
220.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Luang Prabang
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.69 ฿54.8
$1.7 LAK 36.5K
-0.59%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 ฿52.6
$1.08 LAK 23.1K
50.93%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.2 ฿38.83
$2.14 LAK 45.9K
-43.93%
Eggs
$1.99 ฿64.5
$2.44 LAK 52.4K
-18.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.97 ฿517
$25.02 LAK 536.9K
-36.17%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.14 ฿102
$2.6 LAK 55.8K
20.77%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.94 ฿354
$4.39 LAK 94.1K
149.20%
Apples (1kg)
$2.68 ฿86.6
$1.4 LAK 30.1K
91.43%
Banana (1kg)
$1.17 ฿37.97
$2.17 LAK 46.5K
-46.08%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.63 ฿52.6
$2.14 LAK 45.9K
-23.83%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.54 ฿49.78
$4.45 LAK 95.4K
-65.39%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 ฿43.23
$1.52 LAK 32.6K
-11.84%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ฿37.78
$0.98 LAK 21K
19.39%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.67 ฿21.52
$1.05 LAK 22.6K
-36.19%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿18.09
$0.75 LAK 16K
-25.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.57 ฿148
$2.05 LAK 44K
122.93%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.42 ฿596
$29.42 LAK 631.4K
-37.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ฿57.9
$1.27 LAK 27.3K
40.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27 ฿106
$0.87 LAK 18.6K
275.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Luang Prabang
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.96 ฿31.19
$0.59 LAK 12.6K
62.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.98 ฿614
$60.1 LAK 1.3M
-68.41%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.35 ฿43.78
$0.94 LAK 20.2K
43.62%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.3 ฿42.14
$1.13 LAK 24.3K
15.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.24 ฿267
$4.68 LAK 100.5K
76.07%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 ฿39.97
$1.11 LAK 23.8K
11.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K ฿699.5K
$28.4K LAK 610.1M
-23.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿706.1K
$29.5K LAK 632.7M
-25.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Luang Prabang
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.2 ฿2,272
$83.7 LAK 1.8M
-16.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.18 ฿459
$5.49 LAK 117.9K
158.29%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.88 ฿579
$6.94 LAK 149K
157.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Luang Prabang
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.29 ฿1,369
$83.6 LAK 1.8M
-49.43%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.73 ฿218
$7.99 LAK 171.4K
-15.77%
Cinema Ticket
$5.7 ฿185
$2.53 LAK 54.4K
125.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Luang Prabang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 ฿9,969
$253 LAK 5.4M
21.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.1K ฿487.6K
$9,104 LAK 195.4M
65.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Luang Prabang
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.3 ฿1,822
$74.5 LAK 1.6M
-24.42%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.3 ฿851
$61.9 LAK 1.3M
-57.52%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.7 ฿2,742
$75.2 LAK 1.6M
12.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.2 ฿2,336
$52.7 LAK 1.1M
36.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Luang Prabang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$434 ฿14.1K
$1,134 LAK 24.3M
-61.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$243 ฿7,854
$853 LAK 18.3M
-71.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$807 ฿26.1K
$1,943 LAK 41.7M
-58.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$499 ฿16.2K
$1,704 LAK 36.6M
-70.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,195 ฿71K
$2,616 LAK 56.1M
-16.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,560 ฿50.5K
$144 LAK 3.1M
985.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Luang Prabang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$683 ฿22.1K
$196 LAK 4.2M
247.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
10.12
-50.59%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: November 3, 2025

Last update for Luang Prabang: November 3, 2025

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