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 $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,227 in Tepelene, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,874 in Tepelene, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,520 in Tepelene, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 23% cheaper than Tepelene, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Tepelene are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Tepelene 11% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$10.16 ALL 803

-79.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$54.3 ALL 4,291

-63.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$11.49 ALL 907

-49.61%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$2.47 ALL 195

-25.91%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$2.49 ALL 196

-68.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$1.29 ALL 102

-75.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$3.58 ALL 282

-34.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$4.05 ALL 320

-8.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$2.24 ALL 177

-9.38%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$1.28 ALL 101

25.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$2.44 ALL 192

-41.80%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$3.74 ALL 295

-41.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$13.57 ALL 1,071

17.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$9.12 ALL 720

-66.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$17.65 ALL 1,394

-44.08%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$1.93 ALL 152

36.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$2.55 ALL 201

-56.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$2.18 ALL 172

-25.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$1.96 ALL 155

-21.94%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$1.08 ALL 85.1

14.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$1.27 ALL 101

-11.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

$1.50 ALL 118

-50.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$0.83 ALL 65.2

-39.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$5.00 ALL 395

-14.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

$11.38 ALL 899

57.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

$1.82 ALL 144

-6.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

$2.04 ALL 161

42.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

$0.48 ALL 38.27

95.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

$20.28 ALL 1,602

172.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$3.71 ALL 293

-66.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

$3.84 ALL 304

-86.20%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

$19.08 ALL 1,507

-87.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$2.41 ALL 190

-40.25%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

$34.4K ALL 2.7M

-38.41%

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

$36.0K ALL 2.8M

-24.20%

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$105 ALL 8,269

-37.98%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$19.08 ALL 1,507

-30.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$20.97 ALL 1,656

-0.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

$59.1 ALL 4,669

-31.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$10.26 ALL 810

-34.60%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$355 ALL 28.0K

121.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

$8,347 ALL 659.3K

81.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$50.8 ALL 4,010

10.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$47.35 ALL 3,739

-47.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$125 ALL 9,863

-25.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$114 ALL 8,983

-33.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$482 ALL 38.1K

0.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

$336 ALL 26.5K

-14.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

$711 ALL 56.1K

27.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$487 ALL 38.4K

9.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

$1,887 ALL 149.0K

4.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

$1,250 ALL 98.7K

16.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

$701 ALL 55.3K

-13.60%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

5.64

-1.24%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Tepelene: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $482 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 16% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $54.0 in Tepelene. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $300 – 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 29% 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 $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,841 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 $787 per month in Chiang Mai and $355 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 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 $950, than in Tepelene at $1,227. 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 $950 versus $1,227 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.