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 $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,259 in Lushnje, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,938 in Lushnje, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,616 in Lushnje, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 26% cheaper than Lushnje, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Lushnje are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Lushnje 8% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.3

$9.94 ALL 788

-79.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿653

$56.1 ALL 4,444

-65.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$11.28 ALL 894

-49.73%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.1

$2.40 ALL 191

-24.58%

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

$0.77 ฿25.58

$2.46 ALL 195

-68.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.49

$1.28 ALL 101

-72.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.7

$3.58 ALL 283

-38.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

$4.21 ALL 334

-9.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.2

$2.25 ALL 178

-8.89%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

$1.21 ALL 96.1

24.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.57

$2.38 ALL 189

-41.18%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.2

$3.73 ALL 296

-39.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿539

$13.75 ALL 1,090

17.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.4

$9.08 ALL 720

-68.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$17.32 ALL 1,372

-45.61%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.2

$1.95 ALL 154

37.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.28

$2.53 ALL 201

-56.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

$2.29 ALL 182

-29.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.61

$1.86 ALL 147

-21.51%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.54

$1.03 ALL 81.8

24.27%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.21

$1.27 ALL 101

-16.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.88

$1.46 ALL 116

-50.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.51

$0.78 ALL 61.7

-32.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$5.02 ALL 398

-15.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿609

$11.28 ALL 894

62.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.3

$1.81 ALL 143

-9.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.6

$2.06 ALL 163

40.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.24

$0.48 ALL 38.05

83.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,790

$20.74 ALL 1,644

159.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.04

$3.85 ALL 305

-69.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.25

$3.79 ALL 300

-84.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.4

$18.78 ALL 1,488

-87.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.28

$2.41 ALL 191

-39.83%

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

$21.0K ฿699.5K

$34.3K ALL 2.7M

-38.79%

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

$26.4K ฿879.7K

$36.4K ALL 2.9M

-27.37%

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

$63.7 ฿2,119

$105 ALL 8,304

-39.26%

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

$12.89 ฿429

$18.99 ALL 1,505

-32.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿683

$20.73 ALL 1,643

-1.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,299

$65.3 ALL 5,175

-40.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$9.88 ALL 783

-33.40%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

$347 ALL 27.5K

125.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿488.4K

$8,222 ALL 651.6K

78.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,835

$49.56 ALL 3,928

11.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿824

$48.13 ALL 3,815

-48.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,133

$122 ALL 9,635

-22.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,462

$113 ALL 8,965

-34.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

$487 ALL 38.6K

0.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,594

$335 ALL 26.5K

-13.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.7K

$708 ALL 56.1K

25.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

$484 ALL 38.3K

7.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.7K

$1,748 ALL 138.5K

12.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.1K

$1,174 ALL 93.0K

23.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

$625 ALL 49.5K

-3.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

5.64

-1.24%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Lushnje: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $487 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 Lushnje, 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 $56.0 in Lushnje. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $298 – 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 35% 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 $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,889 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 $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $347 in Lushnje. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 24% 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 $932, than in Lushnje at $1,259. 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 $932 versus $1,259 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.