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 $1,200 in Tepelene, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,851 in Tepelene, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,502 in Tepelene, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 29% 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

$2.04 ฿68.4

$11.68 ALL 957

-82.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿626

$59.6 ALL 4,883

-68.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿263

$9.20 ALL 754

-14.57%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.9

$1.98 ALL 162

2.53%

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

$0.80 ฿26.71

$1.88 ALL 154

-57.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.71

$0.98 ALL 80.5

-64.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.7

$3.01 ALL 246

-28.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿123

$4.03 ALL 330

-8.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.8

$2.15 ALL 176

-19.53%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.5

$1.14 ALL 93.0

37.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.10

$2.13 ALL 175

-43.66%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿66.0

$3.86 ALL 316

-48.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿543

$13.24 ALL 1,085

22.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$7.54 ALL 618

-59.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿361

$15.69 ALL 1,286

-31.17%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.6

$1.78 ALL 146

55.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.05

$2.74 ALL 225

-57.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.1

$2.04 ALL 167

-16.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.3

$1.93 ALL 159

-17.62%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.63

$1.37 ALL 112

1.46%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.67

$1.33 ALL 109

-12.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.11

$1.46 ALL 120

-54.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.35

$0.79 ALL 64.5

-34.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$4.21 ALL 345

10.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿595

$11.14 ALL 913

59.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.8

$1.64 ALL 134

9.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿112

$2.14 ALL 175

56.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.35

$0.48 ALL 39.53

89.58%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿624

$18.50 ALL 1,516

0.76%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.17

$3.59 ALL 294

-60.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.82

$3.21 ALL 263

-58.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿271

$17.58 ALL 1,441

-53.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.27

$2.10 ALL 172

-41.43%

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

$21.4K ฿717.0K

$39.7K ALL 3.3M

-45.95%

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

$21.8K ฿730.0K

$35.5K ALL 2.9M

-38.46%

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

$71.3 ฿2,386

$109 ALL 8,910

-34.40%

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

$14.01 ฿469

$17.95 ALL 1,471

-21.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿600

$18.34 ALL 1,503

-2.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,365

$55.5 ALL 4,551

-26.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

$25.52 ALL 2,092

-73.04%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$9.34 ALL 766

-38.76%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$158 ALL 12.9K

95.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿491.0K

$5,676 ALL 465.1K

158.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,865

$61.7 ALL 5,055

-9.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿871

$51.0 ALL 4,177

-48.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,837

$105 ALL 8,638

-19.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,375

$130 ALL 10.6K

-45.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.2K

$454 ALL 37.2K

-6.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,110

$337 ALL 27.6K

-28.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.7K

$621 ALL 50.9K

28.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿17.0K

$442 ALL 36.2K

14.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.2K

$1,848 ALL 151.4K

3.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿49.0K

$1,229 ALL 100.7K

19.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

$672 ALL 55.1K

-11.47%

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 Tepelene: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $454 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 13% 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 $60.0 in Tepelene. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 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 41% 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 $1,800 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 $308 per month in Chiang Mai and $158 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 $1,200. 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 $1,200 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.