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 $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,234 in Tepelene, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,857 in Tepelene, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,480 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 35% lower, Tepelene 8% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$11.74 ALL 959

-83.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$58.4 ALL 4,775

-67.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$9.64 ALL 788

-19.61%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$1.96 ALL 160

-2.04%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$1.90 ALL 155

-58.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$0.99 ALL 81.2

-63.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$2.91 ALL 238

-24.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$4.19 ALL 342

-12.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$2.06 ALL 168

-19.90%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$1.12 ALL 91.8

45.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$2.13 ALL 174

-44.13%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$3.94 ALL 322

-49.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$13.27 ALL 1,084

20.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$7.89 ALL 645

-61.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$15.61 ALL 1,275

-30.43%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$1.79 ALL 146

54.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$2.74 ALL 224

-56.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$2.05 ALL 168

-20.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$1.94 ALL 159

-21.65%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$1.36 ALL 111

1.47%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$1.32 ALL 108

-9.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$1.50 ALL 122

-53.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$0.74 ALL 60.6

-24.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$4.13 ALL 338

10.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

$10.83 ALL 885

52.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

$1.64 ALL 134

11.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

$2.09 ALL 171

53.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$0.46 ALL 37.44

91.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

$18.99 ALL 1,551

-1.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$3.57 ALL 292

-61.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$3.21 ALL 262

-58.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$17.39 ALL 1,421

-54.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$2.15 ALL 176

-42.79%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$40.1K ALL 3.3M

-46.03%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$36.3K ALL 3.0M

-37.90%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$109 ALL 8,866

-35.00%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$17.52 ALL 1,431

-21.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$18.38 ALL 1,502

-5.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$55.0 ALL 4,492

-24.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$25.11 ALL 2,052

-72.28%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$9.20 ALL 752

-37.28%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$160 ALL 13.1K

91.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$5,615 ALL 458.7K

160.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$61.8 ALL 5,052

-9.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$51.2 ALL 4,183

-48.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$105 ALL 8,605

-18.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$131 ALL 10.7K

-44.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$450 ALL 36.8K

-4.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$347 ALL 28.3K

-31.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$610 ALL 49.8K

34.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$427 ALL 34.9K

19.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

$1,983 ALL 162.0K

0.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

$1,313 ALL 107.3K

12.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

$677 ALL 55.3K

-8.60%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Tepelene: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 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 9% 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: $241 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 $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,850 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 $307 per month in Chiang Mai and $160 in Tepelene. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 17% 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 $869, than in Tepelene at $1,234. 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 $869 versus $1,234 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.