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

🙂 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 0.1% cheaper than Vientiane without rent, and 39% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 5.2% cheaper than Vientiane without rent, and 37.5% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Vientiane
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.94 ฿62.8
$2.37 LAK 50.9K
-18.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.36 ฿594
$19.09 LAK 409.7K
-3.82%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.78 ฿252
$4.48 LAK 96.2K
73.66%
Cappuccino
$1.96 ฿63.3
$1.62 LAK 34.8K
20.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 ฿27.01
$0.56 LAK 12K
48.21%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.44
$0.35 LAK 7,461
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.1 ฿67.9
$1.21 LAK 26K
73.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75 ฿121
$1.77 LAK 38.1K
111.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Vientiane
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.69 ฿54.8
$1.92 LAK 41.3K
-11.98%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 ฿52.6
$0.97 LAK 20.8K
68.04%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.2 ฿38.83
$0.97 LAK 20.8K
23.71%
Eggs
$1.99 ฿64.5
$1.84 LAK 39.4K
8.15%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.97 ฿517
$27.48 LAK 589.7K
-41.89%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.14 ฿102
$6.48 LAK 139K
-51.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.94 ฿354
$6.23 LAK 133.8K
75.60%
Apples (1kg)
$2.68 ฿86.6
$1.95 LAK 41.8K
37.44%
Banana (1kg)
$1.17 ฿37.97
$1.14 LAK 24.4K
2.63%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.63 ฿52.6
$2.09 LAK 44.9K
-22.01%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.54 ฿49.78
$1.34 LAK 28.7K
14.93%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 ฿43.23
$1.6 LAK 34.3K
-16.25%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ฿37.78
$1.06 LAK 22.8K
10.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.67 ฿21.52
$0.61 LAK 13.1K
9.84%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿18.09
$0.38 LAK 8,176
47.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.57 ฿148
$2 LAK 42.9K
128.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.42 ฿596
$10.68 LAK 229.3K
72.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ฿57.9
$1.01 LAK 21.8K
77.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27 ฿106
$1.79 LAK 38.4K
82.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Vientiane
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.96 ฿31.19
$0.44 LAK 9,494
118.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.98 ฿614
$49.55 LAK 1.1M
-61.70%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.35 ฿43.78
$1.96 LAK 42.1K
-31.12%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.3 ฿42.14
$1.19 LAK 25.5K
9.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.24 ฿267
$4.89 LAK 105K
68.51%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 ฿39.97
$1.37 LAK 29.4K
-9.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K ฿699.5K
$29.1K LAK 624.9M
-25.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿706.1K
$29.2K LAK 626.9M
-25.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Vientiane
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.2 ฿2,272
$73.7 LAK 1.6M
-4.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.18 ฿459
$31.86 LAK 683.8K
-55.49%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.88 ฿579
$11.4 LAK 244.7K
56.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Vientiane
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.29 ฿1,369
$50.8 LAK 1.1M
-16.70%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.73 ฿218
$5.53 LAK 118.6K
21.70%
Cinema Ticket
$5.7 ฿185
$2.53 LAK 54.3K
125.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Vientiane
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 ฿9,969
$341 LAK 7.3M
-9.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.1K ฿487.6K
$9,427 LAK 202.3M
59.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Vientiane
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.3 ฿1,822
$27.83 LAK 597.3K
102.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.3 ฿851
$69.6 LAK 1.5M
-62.20%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.7 ฿2,742
$57.5 LAK 1.2M
47.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.2 ฿2,336
$42.26 LAK 906.9K
70.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Vientiane
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$434 ฿14.1K
$881 LAK 18.9M
-50.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$243 ฿7,854
$780 LAK 16.7M
-68.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$807 ฿26.1K
$920 LAK 19.7M
-12.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$499 ฿16.2K
$1,649 LAK 35.4M
-69.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,195 ฿71K
$1,848 LAK 39.7M
18.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,560 ฿50.5K
$101 LAK 2.2M
1445.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Vientiane
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$683 ฿22.1K
$274 LAK 5.9M
149.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
10.12
-50.59%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: November 3, 2025

Last update for Vientiane: November 3, 2025

Similar cities

Join the CityCost newsletter – low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.