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 $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,244 in Lushnje, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,889 in Lushnje, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,534 in Lushnje, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 31% cheaper than Lushnje, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Lushnje are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Lushnje 7% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$11.90 ALL 972

-83.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$58.0 ALL 4,734

-67.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$9.57 ALL 781

-17.24%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$1.99 ALL 163

-4.02%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$1.87 ALL 153

-55.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.91 ALL 74.1

-61.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$3.03 ALL 247

-27.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$4.24 ALL 346

-10.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$2.07 ALL 169

-20.77%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$1.13 ALL 92.7

43.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$2.16 ALL 176

-45.37%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$3.95 ALL 323

-49.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$13.04 ALL 1,065

21.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$7.54 ALL 615

-60.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$15.46 ALL 1,262

-30.34%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$1.78 ALL 145

46.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$2.78 ALL 227

-56.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$1.98 ALL 162

-14.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$1.99 ALL 162

-20.60%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$1.36 ALL 111

-2.94%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$1.33 ALL 109

-12.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$1.51 ALL 123

-55.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.75 ALL 61.5

-25.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$4.22 ALL 345

7.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$10.40 ALL 849

75.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$1.58 ALL 129

15.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.09 ALL 171

54.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$0.46 ALL 37.54

93.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

$18.57 ALL 1,516

4.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$3.56 ALL 291

-62.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$3.19 ALL 260

-57.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$17.81 ALL 1,454

-53.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$2.05 ALL 167

-38.05%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$40.3K ALL 3.3M

-47.50%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$35.0K ALL 2.9M

-35.85%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$107 ALL 8,719

-34.31%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$17.98 ALL 1,468

-23.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$18.75 ALL 1,531

-6.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$55.1 ALL 4,498

-24.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

$25.56 ALL 2,087

-74.18%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$9.46 ALL 773

-38.90%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$161 ALL 13.1K

90.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$5,615 ALL 458.4K

164.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$67.6 ALL 5,518

-19.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$50.4 ALL 4,112

-48.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$108 ALL 8,828

-21.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$129 ALL 10.5K

-46.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$445 ALL 36.4K

-4.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$346 ALL 28.3K

-31.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$620 ALL 50.6K

33.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$430 ALL 35.1K

19.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

$2,037 ALL 166.3K

0.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

$1,224 ALL 99.9K

24.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

$604 ALL 49.3K

5.18%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Lushnje: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $445 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 5% 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 $58.0 in Lushnje. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $278 – 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 46% 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 $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,865 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 $306 per month in Chiang Mai and $161 in Lushnje. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 14% 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 $852, than in Lushnje at $1,244. 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 $852 versus $1,244 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.