Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Ludza

For one person, living costs are similar in Chiang Mai and in Ludza: $925 and $955 a month, rent and utilities included.

Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$925
/mo nomad
Ludza
🇱🇻 Latvia
$955
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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 Ludza actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $925 per month in Chiang Mai vs $955 in Ludza, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $925
  • Ludza $955

A couple spends around $1,414 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,505 in Ludza, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,414
  • Ludza $1,505

A family of three spends $1,903 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,055 in Ludza, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,903
  • Ludza $2,055

Chiang Mai is about 3% cheaper than Ludza, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Chiang Mai and Ludza are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Ludza 30% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Ludza
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.29 ฿76.5
$7.89 €7.02
-70.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.64 ฿656
$68.2 €60.7
-71.22%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.61 ฿188
$9.45 €8.40
-40.63%
Cappuccino
$1.66 ฿55.6
$3.62 €3.22
-54.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 ฿23.40
$1.58 €1.40
-55.70%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ฿10.24
$1.15 €1.03
-73.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.41 ฿80.4
$5.53 €4.91
-56.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.71 ฿124
$5.12 €4.55
-27.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Ludza
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.95 ฿65.3
$1.20 €1.07
62.50%
White Bread (500g)
$1.41 ฿47.03
$1.50 €1.33
-6.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.31 ฿43.62
$2.41 €2.14
-45.64%
Eggs
$2.18 ฿72.9
$3.73 €3.32
-41.55%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.65 ฿556
$10.67 €9.49
56.04%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.76 ฿92.2
$8.72 €7.76
-68.35%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.11 ฿304
$13.98 €12.44
-34.84%
Apples (1kg)
$2.39 ฿80.0
$0.67 €0.60
256.72%
Banana (1kg)
$1.03 ฿34.26
$1.45 €1.29
-28.97%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.63 ฿54.4
$1.79 €1.59
-8.94%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.0
$3.24 €2.88
-53.70%
Potato (1kg)
$1.29 ฿43.13
$0.83 €0.74
55.42%
Onion (1kg)
$1.11 ฿37.03
$0.90 €0.80
23.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿24.08
$1.69 €1.51
-57.40%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.59
$0.90 €0.80
-41.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.31 ฿144
$6.78 €6.03
-36.43%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.95 ฿600
$7.92 €7.04
126.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 ฿52.9
$1.97 €1.75
-19.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 ฿95.0
$2.07 €1.84
37.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Ludza
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 ฿28.86
$2.28 €2.03
-62.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.3 ฿1,780
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.21 ฿40.29
$3.32 €2.95
-63.55%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.57 ฿18.99
$1.01 €0.90
-43.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.35 ฿78.6
$17.39 €15.47
-86.49%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.44 ฿47.96
$1.86 €1.66
-22.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.7K ฿692.8K
$27.2K €24.2K
-23.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K ฿895.7K
$30.7K €27.3K
-12.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Ludza
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.3 ฿2,083
$285 €253
-78.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.11 ฿405
$19.76 €17.57
-38.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.94 ฿666
$19.92 €17.72
0.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Ludza
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.07 ฿1,239
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.78 ฿126
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.50 ฿217
$11.29 €10.04
-42.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Ludza
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$793 ฿26.5K
$675 €601
17.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿494.9K
$18.0K €16.0K
-17.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Ludza
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.7 ฿1,796
$69.0 €61.4
-22.15%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.62 ฿823
$49.26 €43.82
-50.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.9 ฿3,036
$77.6 €69.0
17.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.1 ฿2,378
$139 €124
-49.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Ludza
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$455 ฿15.2K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$298 ฿9,954
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$908 ฿30.4K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$554 ฿18.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,931 ฿64.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,445 ฿48.3K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Ludza
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$591 ฿19.7K
$620 €551
-4.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
4.77
16.77%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 17, 2026

Last update for Ludza: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$298
Ludza
- * 100%
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$235
Ludza
$256 8.7% $21
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$108
Ludza
$151 39.5% $43
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$94
Ludza
$324 244% $230
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$79
Ludza
$184 134% $105
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$61
Ludza
$18 * 71.2% $43
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$50
Ludza
$23 * 54.9% $27

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 5% higher in Ludza, 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 $68.0 in Ludza. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $235 vs $256 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇱🇻 Ludza
🕒 Local time
04:59 4:59 AM
00:59 12:59 AM
4 h behind Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
8,500
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Mai Ludza 7,130 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • Ludza

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 Ludza: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Ludza?
Ludza costs about 3% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai and in Ludza?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,388 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,433 in Ludza. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do dining costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Ludza?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $68.0 in Ludza. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or in Ludza?
Groceries cost about 9% more in Ludza, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Chiang Mai or in Ludza?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $925, than in Ludza at $955. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ludza it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Ludza?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $925 versus $955 in Ludza. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Ludza?
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.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or to Ludza?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ludza makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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