Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Tepelene Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Tepelene

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,211 in Tepelene, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,887 in Tepelene, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,562 in Tepelene, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 30% cheaper than Tepelene, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Tepelene are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Tepelene 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$11.56 ALL 944

-83.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$58.5 ALL 4,775

-67.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$9.32 ALL 761

-15.02%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$2.06 ALL 168

-7.28%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$1.83 ALL 149

-54.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.90 ALL 73.8

-61.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$2.92 ALL 239

-24.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$4.07 ALL 332

-6.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$2.16 ALL 176

-24.07%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$1.14 ALL 93.3

42.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$2.22 ALL 181

-46.85%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$3.83 ALL 313

-47.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$13.01 ALL 1,062

22.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$7.88 ALL 644

-61.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$15.63 ALL 1,277

-31.09%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$1.73 ALL 141

50.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$2.74 ALL 224

-55.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$2.06 ALL 168

-17.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$2.01 ALL 164

-21.39%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$1.38 ALL 113

-4.35%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$1.27 ALL 104

-7.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$1.51 ALL 123

-55.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.74 ALL 60.6

-24.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$4.20 ALL 343

7.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$10.54 ALL 860

72.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$1.56 ALL 128

17.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.15 ALL 176

50.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$0.49 ALL 39.95

81.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

$18.90 ALL 1,543

2.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$3.47 ALL 283

-61.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$3.11 ALL 254

-56.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$17.49 ALL 1,428

-52.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$2.13 ALL 174

-40.38%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$40.3K ALL 3.3M

-47.51%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$35.2K ALL 2.9M

-36.18%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$105 ALL 8,604

-33.43%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$17.94 ALL 1,465

-23.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$18.34 ALL 1,498

-4.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$55.2 ALL 4,510

-24.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

$24.87 ALL 2,031

-73.46%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$9.29 ALL 759

-37.78%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$157 ALL 12.8K

94.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$5,582 ALL 455.8K

165.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$62.2 ALL 5,079

-12.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$50.9 ALL 4,156

-48.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$107 ALL 8,761

-21.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$127 ALL 10.4K

-45.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$450 ALL 36.8K

-5.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$346 ALL 28.3K

-31.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$622 ALL 50.8K

32.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$438 ALL 35.8K

17.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

$1,816 ALL 148.3K

12.86%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

$1,206 ALL 98.5K

26.26%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

$679 ALL 55.4K

-6.39%

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 Tepelene: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $450 in Tepelene. 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 7% higher in Tepelene, 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 Tepelene. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $281 – 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 Tepelene: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tepelene costs about 42% 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 $1,817 in Tepelene. 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 $157 in Tepelene. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 15% more in Tepelene, 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 Tepelene at $1,211. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tepelene it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $1,211 in Tepelene. 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, Tepelene makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.