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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $476 per month in Latakia vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $790 per month in Latakia vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,104 per month in Latakia vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Latakia is about 45% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Latakia and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Latakia 65% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Latakia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.75 SYP 525
$1.94 ฿63.8
144.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.68 SYP 2,175
$18.64 ฿611
5.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.11 SYP 565
$7.82 ฿256
-34.65%
Cappuccino
$0.66 SYP 72.8
$1.95 ฿64.1
-66.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 SYP 77.7
$0.85 ฿27.90
-17.65%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 SYP 40.60
$0.35 ฿11.64
5.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.02 SYP 113
$2.13 ฿69.9
-52.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73 SYP 191
$3.73 ฿122
-53.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Latakia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.75 SYP 83.0
$1.71 ฿56.2
-56.14%
White Bread (500g)
$0.58 SYP 64.5
$1.63 ฿53.4
-64.42%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.99 SYP 110
$1.14 ฿37.32
-13.16%
Eggs
$1.82 SYP 201
$1.93 ฿63.4
-5.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.11 SYP 344
$16.21 ฿532
-80.81%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.84 SYP 756
$3.12 ฿102
119.23%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.49 SYP 1,269
$10.90 ฿357
5.41%
Apples (1kg)
$0.89 SYP 98.0
$2.75 ฿90.4
-67.64%
Banana (1kg)
$1.05 SYP 116
$1.21 ฿39.70
-13.22%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.69 SYP 76.4
$1.62 ฿53.2
-57.41%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.58 SYP 64.6
$1.59 ฿52.1
-63.52%
Potato (1kg)
$0.61 SYP 67.4
$1.40 ฿45.91
-56.43%
Onion (1kg)
$0.66 SYP 73.1
$1.17 ฿38.34
-43.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.40 SYP 44.24
$0.66 ฿21.70
-39.39%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.62 SYP 69.0
$0.53 ฿17.30
16.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.93 SYP 324
$4.69 ฿154
-37.53%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.03 SYP 556
$18.66 ฿612
-73.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.93 SYP 103
$1.80 ฿59.0
-48.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85 SYP 204
$3.23 ฿106
-42.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Latakia
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.08 SYP 8.61
$0.90 ฿29.39
-91.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$19.21 ฿630
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.02 SYP 113
$1.41 ฿46.13
-27.66%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.52 SYP 57.8
$1.29 ฿42.31
-59.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.63 SYP 733
$7.84 ฿257
-15.43%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 SYP 104
$1.27 ฿41.77
-25.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.3K SYP 2.0M
$21.3K ฿698.1K
-13.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.0K SYP 2.3M
$22.2K ฿728.8K
-5.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Latakia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$39.89 SYP 4,408
$69.1 ฿2,266
-42.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.31 SYP 918
$14.08 ฿462
-40.98%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$47.37 SYP 5,234
$18.00 ฿591
163.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Latakia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$12.25 SYP 1,353
$41.06 ฿1,347
-70.17%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.02 SYP 444
$6.96 ฿228
-42.24%
Cinema Ticket
$1.11 SYP 122
$5.92 ฿194
-81.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Latakia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$20.15 SYP 2,227
$299 ฿9,811
-93.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,841 SYP 203.4K
$15.0K ฿490.6K
-87.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Latakia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$22.21 SYP 2,455
$54.7 ฿1,795
-59.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.71 SYP 2,620
$26.77 ฿878
-11.43%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$41.62 SYP 4,599
$85.0 ฿2,788
-51.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.45 SYP 4,469
$70.6 ฿2,316
-42.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Latakia
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$247 SYP 27.3K
$428 ฿14.0K
-42.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$84.6 SYP 9,349
$237 ฿7,787
-64.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$467 SYP 51.6K
$801 ฿26.3K
-41.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$245 SYP 27.1K
$515 ฿16.9K
-52.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,975 ฿64.8K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,475 ฿48.4K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Latakia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$58.1 SYP 6,421
$617 ฿20.3K
-90.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.75
5
175.00%

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

Last update for Latakia: June 1, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $247 in Latakia versus $428 in Chiang Mai. 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 963% higher in Chiang Mai, 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 Latakia versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $150 in Latakia vs $246 in Chiang Mai – so Latakia wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Latakia vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Latakia or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 82% more than Latakia, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Latakia vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $713 per month in Latakia and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Latakia or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Latakia, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Latakia vs Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Latakia and $19.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Latakia or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 65% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Latakia or Chiang Mai?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $476 in Latakia and $866 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Latakia or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Latakia costs $476 versus $866 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Latakia compared to Chiang Mai?
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.
Should I move to Latakia or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Latakia. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Latakia vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities