Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Pogradec

For one person, living is cheaper in Pogradec: $820 a month against $936 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $1,400 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Chiang Mai outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
Learn more

Chiang Mai Living Index
39

Cost of Living Index in Pogradec
Learn more

Pogradec Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$936

/mo nomad

Pogradec

🇦🇱 Albania

$820

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $820 in Pogradec, rent included.

Chiang Mai $936
Pogradec $820

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,353 in Pogradec, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,457
Pogradec $1,353

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,887 in Pogradec, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,979
Pogradec $1,887

Chiang Mai costs about 14% more than Pogradec, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Chiang Mai and Pogradec are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Pogradec 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.24 ฿75.6

$9.62 ALL 781

-76.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.00 ฿641

$39.12 ALL 3,177

-51.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.55 ฿187

$7.30 ALL 593

-23.97%

Cappuccino

$1.67 ฿56.5

$1.58 ALL 129

5.70%

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

$0.64 ฿21.55

$1.81 ALL 147

-64.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.31

$0.68 ALL 55.6

-54.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 ฿79.6

$1.49 ALL 121

58.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿124

$2.66 ALL 216

37.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ฿65.8

$1.97 ALL 160

-1.02%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ฿48.48

$0.91 ALL 73.8

58.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 ฿45.04

$2.05 ALL 167

-35.12%

Eggs

$2.28 ฿77.1

$2.28 ALL 186

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.45 ฿555

$8.19 ALL 665

100.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.78 ฿93.9

$4.36 ALL 354

-36.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.31 ฿314

$14.35 ALL 1,166

-35.12%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 ฿79.4

$1.27 ALL 103

85.04%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 ฿32.80

$2.35 ALL 191

-58.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 ฿53.9

$1.50 ALL 122

6.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.6

$1.26 ALL 102

19.05%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿43.12

$0.97 ALL 79.0

31.96%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿37.19

$1.02 ALL 83.1

7.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿23.82

$1.02 ALL 82.6

-30.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.37

$0.84 ALL 68.4

-41.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 ฿140

$4.28 ALL 348

-3.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.52 ฿591

$7.80 ALL 634

124.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 ฿54.5

$1.25 ALL 102

28.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿94.0

$1.82 ALL 148

52.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ฿29.31

$0.51 ALL 41.08

70.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.1 ฿1,826

$18.76 ALL 1,524

188.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 ฿39.06

$3.64 ALL 296

-68.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.80

$1.86 ALL 151

-71.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿81.8

$18.50 ALL 1,503

-86.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.90

$2.28 ALL 185

-36.40%

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

$21.1K ฿710.7K

$33.1K ALL 2.7M

-36.32%

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

$26.9K ฿909.3K

$24.3K ALL 2.0M

10.81%

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

$62.2 ฿2,098

$61.3 ALL 4,976

1.47%

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

$12.17 ฿411

$16.66 ALL 1,353

-26.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ฿679

$17.47 ALL 1,419

15.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.31 ฿1,259

$36.29 ALL 2,947

2.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿127

$18.73 ALL 1,521

-79.87%

Cinema Ticket

$6.49 ฿219

$8.62 ALL 700

-24.71%

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

$736 ฿24.8K

$99.8 ALL 8,105

637.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿498.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 ฿1,801

$49.22 ALL 3,998

8.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.64 ฿831

$56.0 ALL 4,549

-56.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.5 ฿3,087

$96.9 ALL 7,871

-5.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.9 ฿2,428

$149 ALL 12.1K

-51.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.3K

$185 ALL 15.1K

160.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 ฿10.4K

$126 ALL 10.2K

145.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 ฿33.9K

$366 ALL 29.7K

175.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$633 ฿21.4K

$251 ALL 20.4K

152.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,363 ฿79.8K

$1,626 ALL 132.1K

45.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,589 ฿53.6K

$1,499 ALL 121.8K

6.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$590 ฿19.9K

$478 ALL 38.9K

23.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

11.40%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Last update for Pogradec: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$309 33%

Pogradec

$126 15.3% 59.3% $183

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$234 25.1%

Pogradec

$213 26% 9.2% $21

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$109 11.6%

Pogradec

$158 19.3% 45.5% $49

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Pogradec

$95 11.6% 1% $0.9

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$78 8.3%

Pogradec

$141 17.2% 81.2% $63

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Pogradec

$34 4.1% 45% $28

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Pogradec

$54 6.5% 6.5% $3.3

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Chiang Mai versus $185 in Pogradec. 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 23% higher in Chiang Mai. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $39 in Pogradec. Groceries tell a different story – $234 in Chiang Mai vs $213 in Pogradec – so Pogradec wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇦🇱 Pogradec

🕒 Local time

09:47 9:47 AM

03:47 3:47 AM

6 h behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

20,848

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Albanian Lek ALL L

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.65 EUR

100 ALL = 1.23 USD

100 ALL = 1.1 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

ALL, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 33.75 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.68 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

Albanian Lek exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 81.22 ALL (100 ALL = 1.23 USD). 1 EUR = 90.69 ALL (100 ALL = 1.1 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Chiang Mai Pogradec 7,690 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Pogradec

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 Pogradec: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 14% more than Pogradec, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from transport. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,230 in Pogradec. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Pogradec, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $185 there versus $482 in Chiang Mai.

Kindergarten costs $736 per month in Chiang Mai and $100 in Pogradec. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 10% more in Chiang Mai, though the gap depends on what you buy.

$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $936 in Chiang Mai and $820 in Pogradec. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Pogradec – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Pogradec. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.