Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Lushnje Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Lushnje

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,225 in Lushnje, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,888 in Lushnje, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,551 in Lushnje, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 29% cheaper than Lushnje, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Lushnje are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Lushnje 9% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$11.80 ALL 964

-83.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$59.2 ALL 4,834

-68.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$9.51 ALL 777

-18.51%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$2.07 ALL 169

-7.25%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$1.90 ALL 155

-58.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$0.96 ALL 78.8

-62.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$2.99 ALL 244

-26.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$4.16 ALL 340

-12.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$2.04 ALL 167

-19.12%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$1.14 ALL 93.0

42.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$2.15 ALL 176

-44.65%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$3.82 ALL 312

-47.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$13.21 ALL 1,080

20.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$7.70 ALL 629

-60.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$15.94 ALL 1,302

-31.87%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$1.71 ALL 140

61.40%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$2.80 ALL 229

-57.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$2.02 ALL 165

-18.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$1.91 ALL 156

-20.42%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$1.30 ALL 107

6.15%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$1.33 ALL 109

-10.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$1.52 ALL 124

-53.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$0.74 ALL 60.5

-24.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$4.30 ALL 351

6.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

$10.72 ALL 876

54.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

$1.63 ALL 134

12.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

$2.14 ALL 175

49.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$0.45 ALL 36.52

95.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

$18.50 ALL 1,511

1.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$3.54 ALL 289

-61.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$3.17 ALL 259

-57.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$17.53 ALL 1,433

-55.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$2.07 ALL 169

-40.58%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$40.7K ALL 3.3M

-46.84%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$36.2K ALL 3.0M

-37.64%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$108 ALL 8,843

-34.83%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$18.18 ALL 1,485

-24.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$18.19 ALL 1,486

-4.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$55.7 ALL 4,549

-25.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$25.60 ALL 2,091

-72.81%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$9.32 ALL 762

-38.09%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$159 ALL 13.0K

93.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$5,612 ALL 458.5K

160.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$67.8 ALL 5,543

-17.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$50.6 ALL 4,136

-48.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$106 ALL 8,666

-19.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$131 ALL 10.7K

-44.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$452 ALL 36.9K

-4.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$343 ALL 28.0K

-30.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$612 ALL 50.0K

33.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$432 ALL 35.3K

18.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

$2,110 ALL 172.4K

-6.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

$1,459 ALL 119.2K

1.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

$595 ALL 48.6K

3.94%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.52

-9.42%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Last update for Lushnje: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $452 in Lushnje. 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 4% 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 $59.0 in Lushnje. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $280 – 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 Lushnje: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lushnje costs about 41% 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 $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,838 in Lushnje. 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 $307 per month in Chiang Mai and $159 in Lushnje. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 16% more in Lushnje, 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 $869, than in Lushnje at $1,225. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lushnje it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $869 versus $1,225 in Lushnje. 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, Lushnje makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.