Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Lviv

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $906 a month against $1,007 in Lviv, rent and utilities included – about $1,200 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Lviv outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$906
/mo nomad
Lviv
🇺🇦 Ukraine
$1,007
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

A single person spends $906 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,007 in Lviv, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $906
  • Lviv $1,007

A couple spends around $1,385 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,544 in Lviv, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,385
  • Lviv $1,544

A family of three spends $1,864 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,081 in Lviv, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,864
  • Lviv $2,081

Chiang Mai is about 10% cheaper than Lviv, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Lviv are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Lviv 25% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Lviv
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.13 ฿71.7
$6.74 ₴302
-68.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.40 ฿652
$36.43 ₴1,634
-46.75%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.47 ฿184
$6.47 ₴290
-15.46%
Cappuccino
$1.68 ฿56.7
$2.17 ₴97.5
-22.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66 ฿22.19
$1.33 ₴59.5
-50.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 ฿11.56
$1.31 ₴58.6
-74.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.42 ฿81.3
$2.37 ₴107
2.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿126
$2.98 ₴134
25.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Lviv
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.06 ฿69.2
$1.29 ₴57.9
59.69%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 ฿48.98
$0.80 ₴35.92
82.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.35 ฿45.27
$1.65 ₴74.1
-18.18%
Eggs
$2.27 ฿76.3
$2.12 ₴94.9
7.08%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.31 ฿548
$9.18 ₴412
77.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.70 ฿90.7
$4.83 ₴217
-44.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.20 ฿309
$7.83 ₴351
17.50%
Apples (1kg)
$2.39 ฿80.5
$1.38 ₴61.9
73.19%
Banana (1kg)
$1.04 ฿34.80
$1.56 ₴70.0
-33.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 ฿53.9
$1.72 ₴77.4
-6.98%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.44 ฿48.57
$2.74 ₴123
-47.45%
Potato (1kg)
$1.30 ฿43.77
$0.83 ₴37.40
56.63%
Onion (1kg)
$1.11 ฿37.45
$0.54 ₴24.18
105.56%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.70 ฿23.65
$1.47 ₴66.0
-52.38%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿17.06
$0.52 ₴23.40
-1.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.13 ฿139
$3.28 ₴147
25.91%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.78 ฿598
$6.72 ₴302
164.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 ฿54.9
$0.90 ₴40.58
81.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 ฿96.4
$1.61 ₴72.3
78.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Lviv
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 ฿28.88
$0.54 ₴24.09
59.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.2 ฿1,787
$19.80 ₴888
168.43%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.22 ฿40.99
$2.86 ₴128
-57.34%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.56 ฿18.89
$0.32 ₴14.13
75.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.31 ฿77.8
$4.26 ₴191
-45.77%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.50 ฿50.4
$1.74 ₴77.9
-13.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.9K ฿701.2K
$29.0K ₴1.3M
-28.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿898.8K
$24.9K ₴1.1M
7.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Lviv
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$61.3 ฿2,059
$85.3 ₴3,826
-28.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.50 ฿420
$6.00 ₴269
108.33%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.36 ฿685
$7.05 ₴316
188.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Lviv
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.94 ฿1,275
$32.05 ₴1,438
18.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.77 ฿127
$14.21 ₴638
-73.47%
Cinema Ticket
$6.60 ฿222
$4.71 ₴211
40.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Lviv
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$774 ฿26.0K
$333 ₴14.9K
132.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.4K ฿485.3K
$7,109 ₴318.9K
103.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Lviv
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.8 ฿1,842
$90.1 ₴4,044
-39.21%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.26 ฿849
$43.99 ₴1,974
-42.58%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.6 ฿3,045
$95.8 ₴4,297
-5.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.3 ฿2,463
$98.4 ₴4,415
-25.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Lviv
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$459 ฿15.4K
$492 ₴22.1K
-6.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$294 ฿9,877
$390 ₴17.5K
-24.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$919 ฿30.9K
$908 ₴40.7K
1.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$552 ฿18.6K
$631 ₴28.3K
-12.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,917 ฿64.5K
$1,991 ₴89.3K
-3.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,445 ฿48.6K
$1,279 ₴57.4K
12.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Lviv
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$592 ฿19.9K
$643 ₴28.9K
-7.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
13.33
-58.21%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 5, 2026

Last update for Lviv: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$294
Lviv
$390 32.7% $96
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$236
Lviv
$185 21.6% $51
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$110
Lviv
$148 34.6% $38
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$94
Lviv
$98 4.5% $4.2
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$77
Lviv
$128 65.4% $50
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$61
Lviv
$26 56.5% $34
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$51
Lviv
$41 18.9% $9.7

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $459 in Chiang Mai versus $492 in Lviv. 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 9% higher in Lviv, 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 $36.00 in Lviv. Groceries tell a different story – $236 in Chiang Mai vs $185 in Lviv – so Lviv wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇺🇦 Lviv
🕒 Local time
14:45 2:45 PM
10:45 10:45 AM
4 h behind Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
728,350
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

UAH, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 33.62 THB (100 THB = 2.97 USD). 1 EUR = 37.71 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

Ukrainian Hryvnia exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 44.86 UAH (100 UAH = 2.23 USD). 1 EUR = 50.32 UAH (100 UAH = 1.99 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Mai Lviv 7,350 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • Lviv

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 Lviv: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Lviv?
Lviv costs about 11% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. 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 Lviv?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,359 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,511 in Lviv. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Lviv?
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.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Lviv?
Kindergarten costs $774 per month in Chiang Mai and $333 in Lviv. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or in Lviv?
Interestingly, groceries are about 28% cheaper in Lviv – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Chiang Mai or in Lviv?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $906, than in Lviv at $1,007. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lviv it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Lviv?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $906 versus $1,007 in Lviv. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Lviv?
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 Lviv?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lviv makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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