Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Vlore

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $936 a month against $1,201 in Vlore, rent and utilities included – about $3,200 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
58

Cost of Living Index in Vlore
Learn more

Vlore Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$936

/mo nomad

Vlore

🇦🇱 Albania

$1,201

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,201 in Vlore, rent included.

Chiang Mai $936
Vlore $1,201

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,795 in Vlore, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,457
Vlore $1,795

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,390 in Vlore, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,979
Vlore $2,390

Chiang Mai is about 22% cheaper than Vlore, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Chiang Mai and Vlore are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Vlore 12% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.24 ฿75.6

$10.08 ALL 819

-77.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.00 ฿641

$39.28 ALL 3,190

-51.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.55 ฿187

$7.56 ALL 614

-26.59%

Cappuccino

$1.67 ฿56.5

$1.93 ALL 156

-13.47%

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

$0.64 ฿21.54

$1.81 ALL 147

-64.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.31

$0.68 ALL 55.5

-54.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 ฿79.5

$2.50 ALL 203

-5.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿124

$3.38 ALL 274

8.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ฿65.7

$1.98 ALL 161

-1.52%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ฿48.46

$0.92 ALL 74.6

56.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 ฿45.03

$2.04 ALL 166

-34.80%

Eggs

$2.28 ฿77.1

$2.70 ALL 219

-15.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.45 ฿555

$10.40 ALL 845

58.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.78 ฿93.9

$8.32 ALL 676

-66.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.31 ฿314

$14.24 ALL 1,156

-34.62%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 ฿79.4

$2.02 ALL 164

16.34%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 ฿32.79

$2.31 ALL 187

-58.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 ฿53.9

$1.66 ALL 135

-3.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.6

$1.59 ALL 129

-5.66%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿43.11

$1.04 ALL 84.8

23.08%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿37.18

$1.24 ALL 101

-11.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿23.82

$1.20 ALL 97.8

-40.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.36

$0.82 ALL 66.6

-40.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 ฿140

$4.23 ALL 343

-2.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.52 ฿591

$7.97 ALL 648

119.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 ฿54.5

$1.72 ALL 140

-6.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿93.9

$1.83 ALL 148

51.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ฿29.30

$0.50 ALL 41.01

74.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.1 ฿1,825

$24.77 ALL 2,012

118.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 ฿39.04

$3.69 ALL 299

-68.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.80

$3.73 ALL 303

-85.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿81.7

$18.60 ALL 1,511

-86.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.88

$2.17 ALL 176

-33.18%

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

$21.1K ฿710.5K

$33.4K ALL 2.7M

-37.03%

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

$26.9K ฿909.0K

$24.7K ALL 2.0M

8.86%

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

$62.2 ฿2,098

$60.8 ALL 4,936

2.30%

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

$12.17 ฿411

$16.42 ALL 1,334

-25.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ฿679

$17.46 ALL 1,418

15.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.31 ฿1,259

$57.3 ALL 4,654

-34.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿127

$29.41 ALL 2,388

-87.18%

Cinema Ticket

$6.49 ฿219

$8.63 ALL 701

-24.80%

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

$736 ฿24.8K

$100 ALL 8,141

634.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿498.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 ฿1,801

$49.72 ALL 4,038

7.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.64 ฿831

$55.7 ALL 4,526

-55.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.5 ฿3,087

$101 ALL 8,185

-9.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.9 ฿2,427

$146 ALL 11.9K

-50.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.3K

$547 ALL 44.4K

-11.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 ฿10.4K

$418 ALL 33.9K

-26.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 ฿33.9K

$703 ALL 57.1K

43.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$633 ฿21.4K

$552 ALL 44.9K

14.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,363 ฿79.7K

$2,068 ALL 168.0K

14.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,589 ฿53.6K

$1,416 ALL 115.0K

12.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$590 ฿19.9K

$859 ALL 69.8K

-31.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

11.40%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Last update for Vlore: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$309 33%

Vlore

$418 34.8% 35.2% $109

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$234 25.1%

Vlore

$250 20.9% 6.9% $16

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$109 11.6%

Vlore

$159 13.2% 46% $50

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Vlore

$95 7.9% 0.2% $0.2

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$78 8.3%

Vlore

$156 13% 101% $78

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Vlore

$49 4.1% 19.9% $12

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Vlore

$75 6.2% 48.3% $24

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Chiang Mai versus $547 in Vlore. 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 46% higher in Vlore. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $39 in Vlore. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $234 vs $250 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇦🇱 Vlore

🕒 Local time

06:12 6:12 AM

00:12 12:12 AM

6 h behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

79,513

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Albanian Lek ALL L

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.96 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 1, 2026: 1 USD = 33.74 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.67 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

Albanian Lek exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 81.22 ALL (100 ALL = 1.23 USD). 1 EUR = 90.69 ALL (100 ALL = 1.1 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Chiang Mai Vlore 7,790 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Vlore

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 Vlore: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Vlore costs about 28% 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 $1,801 in Vlore. 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $482 there versus $547 in Vlore.

Kindergarten costs $736 per month in Chiang Mai and $100 in Vlore. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 7% more in Vlore, though the gap depends on what you buy.

$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $936 in Chiang Mai and $1,201 in Vlore. 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 $1,201 in Vlore. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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