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

🙂 Solo nomad: Lae is 15.3% cheaper than Chiang Mai without rent, and 40.5% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Lae is 1.6% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 26.9% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.68 PGK 43.6

$2.02 ฿65.3

428.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$55.7 PGK 227

$18.78 ฿608

196.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.67 ฿248

Cappuccino

$2.92 PGK 11.94

$1.98 ฿64.2

47.47%

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

$0.87 PGK 3.55

$0.82 ฿26.64

6.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.59 PGK 2.4

$0.33 ฿10.58

78.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.68 PGK 15

$2.12 ฿68.6

73.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.63 PGK 22.99

$3.73 ฿121

50.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.11 PGK 8.61

$1.64 ฿53.2

28.66%

White Bread (500g)

$1.55 PGK 6.33

$1.57 ฿50.9

-1.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 PGK 5.78

$1.19 ฿38.62

19.33%

Eggs

$4.32 PGK 17.63

$1.98 ฿64.1

118.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.09 PGK 41.21

$15.99 ฿517

-36.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.62 PGK 39.28

$3.12 ฿101

208.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.32 PGK 46.21

$11.16 ฿361

1.43%

Apples (1kg)

$4.71 PGK 19.24

$2.76 ฿89.2

70.65%

Banana (1kg)

$2.93 PGK 11.95

$1.22 ฿39.5

140.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.41 PGK 26.17

$1.71 ฿55.4

274.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.64 PGK 6.69

$1.55 ฿50.2

5.81%

Potato (1kg)

$3.67 PGK 14.96

$1.34 ฿43.21

173.88%

Onion (1kg)

$2.55 PGK 10.4

$1.21 ฿39.23

110.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.75 PGK 3.07

$0.72 ฿23.2

4.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 PGK 3.84

$0.53 ฿17.05

77.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.02 PGK 28.68

$4.72 ฿153

48.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.11 PGK 53.5

$18.39 ฿595

-28.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 PGK 11.04

$1.79 ฿57.9

50.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.8 PGK 19.58

$3.21 ฿104

49.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 PGK 1.41

$0.94 ฿30.44

-63.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.9 ฿612

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 ฿46.08

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿43.53

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.85 ฿254

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 PGK 4.72

$1.25 ฿40.4

-7.20%

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

$21.2K ฿684.9K

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

$21.8K ฿706.8K

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

$70.6 ฿2,285

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

$13.72 ฿444

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.56 ฿568

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.64 ฿1,347

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.9 ฿223

Cinema Ticket

$5.8 ฿188

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

$308 ฿9,963

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿475.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.4 ฿1,793

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.4 ฿854

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.1 ฿2,755

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.8 ฿2,323

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$7,981 PGK 32.6K

$434 ฿14K

1738.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$736 PGK 3,004

$235 ฿7,610

212.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,456 PGK 5,942

$821 ฿26.6K

77.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$498 ฿16.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,180 ฿70.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,543 ฿49.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$164 PGK 669

$703 ฿22.8K

-76.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Lae: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

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