Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Tepelene

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $936 a month against $1,184 in Tepelene, rent and utilities included – about $3,000 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index
57

Cost of Living Index in Tepelene
Learn more

Tepelene Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$936

/mo nomad

Tepelene

🇦🇱 Albania

$1,184

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,184 in Tepelene, rent included.

Chiang Mai $936
Tepelene $1,184

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,838 in Tepelene, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,457
Tepelene $1,838

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,493 in Tepelene, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,979
Tepelene $2,493

Chiang Mai is about 21% cheaper than Tepelene, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Chiang Mai and Tepelene are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Tepelene 13% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.24 ฿75.5

$10.12 ALL 820

-77.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.00 ฿640

$56.3 ALL 4,560

-66.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.55 ฿187

$11.34 ALL 919

-51.06%

Cappuccino

$1.67 ฿56.4

$2.24 ALL 181

-25.45%

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

$0.64 ฿21.51

$2.35 ALL 190

-72.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.29

$1.25 ALL 101

-75.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 ฿79.5

$3.65 ALL 296

-35.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿123

$4.01 ALL 324

-8.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ฿65.7

$2.26 ALL 183

-13.72%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ฿48.41

$1.17 ALL 94.6

23.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 ฿44.97

$2.34 ALL 190

-43.16%

Eggs

$2.28 ฿77.0

$3.67 ALL 298

-37.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.45 ฿554

$12.73 ALL 1,031

29.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.78 ฿93.8

$9.03 ALL 732

-69.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.31 ฿314

$17.34 ALL 1,404

-46.31%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 ฿79.3

$1.98 ALL 160

18.69%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 ฿32.75

$2.42 ALL 196

-59.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 ฿53.8

$2.17 ALL 176

-26.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.6

$1.85 ALL 150

-18.92%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿43.06

$1.03 ALL 83.3

24.27%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿37.14

$1.26 ALL 102

-12.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿23.79

$1.46 ALL 118

-51.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.34

$0.80 ALL 64.7

-38.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 ฿140

$4.79 ALL 388

-13.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.52 ฿590

$10.66 ALL 864

64.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 ฿54.4

$1.62 ALL 131

-0.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿93.8

$2.11 ALL 171

31.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ฿29.27

$0.42 ALL 34.05

107.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.1 ฿1,823

$16.82 ALL 1,362

221.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 ฿39.00

$3.78 ALL 306

-69.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.78

$3.80 ALL 308

-86.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿81.6

$18.45 ALL 1,495

-86.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.82

$2.43 ALL 197

-40.33%

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

$21.1K ฿709.7K

$34.1K ALL 2.8M

-38.16%

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

$26.9K ฿907.9K

$29.9K ALL 2.4M

-9.81%

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

$62.2 ฿2,095

$101 ALL 8,150

-38.20%

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

$12.17 ฿410

$18.39 ALL 1,489

-33.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ฿678

$20.14 ALL 1,632

-0.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.31 ฿1,257

$50.3 ALL 4,077

-25.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿127

Cinema Ticket

$6.49 ฿219

$9.62 ALL 779

-32.54%

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

$736 ฿24.8K

$351 ALL 28.4K

109.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿497.6K

$8,174 ALL 662.2K

80.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 ฿1,799

$50.3 ALL 4,075

6.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.64 ฿830

$48.59 ALL 3,937

-49.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.5 ฿3,083

$118 ALL 9,573

-22.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.9 ฿2,424

$114 ALL 9,199

-36.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.3K

$480 ALL 38.9K

0.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 ฿10.4K

$312 ALL 25.3K

-1.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 ฿33.9K

$713 ALL 57.8K

41.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$633 ฿21.3K

$460 ALL 37.3K

37.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,363 ฿79.6K

$1,943 ALL 157.4K

21.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,589 ฿53.6K

$1,289 ALL 104.4K

23.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$590 ฿19.9K

$679 ALL 55.0K

-13.10%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

5.16

7.95%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Last update for Tepelene: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$309 33%

Tepelene

$312 26.4% 1.1% $3.3

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$234 25.1%

Tepelene

$291 24.6% 24% $56

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$109 11.6%

Tepelene

$149 12.6% 36.9% $40

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Tepelene

$139 11.8% 47.3% $45

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$78 8.3%

Tepelene

$182 15.4% 135% $105

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Tepelene

$41 3.5% 32.7% $20

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Tepelene

$70 5.9% 38.3% $19

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Chiang Mai versus $480 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 15% 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 in Chiang Mai versus $56 in Tepelene. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $234 vs $291 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇦🇱 Tepelene

🕒 Local time

09:08 9:08 AM

03:08 3:08 AM

6 h behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

8,000

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Albanian Lek ALL L

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.97 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 3, 2026: 1 USD = 33.7 THB (100 THB = 2.97 USD). 1 EUR = 37.77 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

Albanian Lek exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 81.01 ALL (100 ALL = 1.23 USD). 1 EUR = 90.8 ALL (100 ALL = 1.1 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

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Chiang Mai Tepelene 7,750 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Tepelene

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 Tepelene: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tepelene costs about 27% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from 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 $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,776 in Tepelene. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A central 1-bedroom goes for about $482 in Chiang Mai and $480 in Tepelene. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.

Kindergarten costs $736 per month in Chiang Mai and $351 in Tepelene. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 24% more in Tepelene, though the gap depends on what you buy.

$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $936 in Chiang Mai and $1,184 in Tepelene. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $936 in Chiang Mai to $1,184 in Tepelene. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

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