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 $1,233 in Lushnje, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,852 in Lushnje, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,471 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

$2.04 ฿68.2

$11.91 ALL 968

-82.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿624

$58.0 ALL 4,713

-67.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿262

$9.39 ALL 763

-16.29%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.7

$2.00 ALL 162

1.50%

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

$0.80 ฿26.64

$1.83 ALL 149

-56.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.68

$0.91 ALL 73.6

-61.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.5

$2.96 ALL 240

-27.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿122

$4.03 ALL 328

-8.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.6

$2.16 ALL 176

-19.91%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.4

$1.09 ALL 88.5

44.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿39.99

$2.24 ALL 182

-46.43%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿65.8

$3.92 ALL 319

-49.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿541

$12.99 ALL 1,055

24.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$7.65 ALL 622

-60.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿360

$15.62 ALL 1,269

-30.86%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.3

$1.70 ALL 138

62.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.94

$2.69 ALL 219

-56.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.0

$2.05 ALL 167

-16.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.2

$2.00 ALL 163

-20.50%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.51

$1.31 ALL 106

6.11%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.56

$1.27 ALL 103

-8.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.05

$1.46 ALL 119

-54.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.31

$0.75 ALL 61.3

-30.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$4.16 ALL 338

11.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿593

$10.74 ALL 872

65.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.6

$1.58 ALL 128

13.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿111

$2.13 ALL 173

56.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.27

$0.46 ALL 37.05

97.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿622

$19.01 ALL 1,545

-1.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.04

$3.44 ALL 279

-59.01%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.70

$3.20 ALL 260

-58.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿270

$17.35 ALL 1,410

-53.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.16

$2.08 ALL 169

-40.87%

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

$21.4K ฿715.1K

$39.9K ALL 3.2M

-46.27%

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

$21.8K ฿728.0K

$36.1K ALL 2.9M

-39.47%

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

$71.3 ฿2,379

$106 ALL 8,605

-32.65%

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

$14.01 ฿467

$18.03 ALL 1,465

-22.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿598

$18.24 ALL 1,482

-1.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,362

$55.3 ALL 4,489

-26.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

$25.39 ALL 2,063

-72.90%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$9.69 ALL 788

-40.97%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$158 ALL 12.8K

95.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.7K

$5,538 ALL 449.9K

165.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,860

$69.4 ALL 5,638

-19.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿869

$50.0 ALL 4,064

-47.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,829

$109 ALL 8,886

-22.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,368

$128 ALL 10.4K

-44.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.1K

$456 ALL 37.0K

-7.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,088

$340 ALL 27.6K

-28.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.6K

$612 ALL 49.7K

30.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿16.9K

$435 ALL 35.3K

16.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.0K

$1,786 ALL 145.1K

7.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿48.8K

$1,080 ALL 87.8K

35.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

$605 ALL 49.1K

-1.63%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Lushnje: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $456 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 2% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $58.0 in Lushnje. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 vs $279 – 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 45% 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 $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,850 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 $308 per month in Chiang Mai and $158 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 $1,233. 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 $1,233 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.