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

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $678 per month in Lautoka vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,225 per month in Lautoka vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,771 per month in Lautoka vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Lautoka is about 21% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Lautoka and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Lautoka 49% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.92 FJD 11.01

$1.96 ฿65.9

151.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.93 FJD 101

$18.35 ฿617

144.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.81 FJD 15.25

$7.48 ฿252

-8.96%

Cappuccino

$3.16 FJD 7.07

$2.02 ฿67.8

56.44%

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

$1.30 FJD 2.92

$0.85 ฿28.52

52.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.65 FJD 1.46

$0.36 ฿11.97

80.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 FJD 5.46

$2.14 ฿71.9

14.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 FJD 7.76

$3.59 ฿121

-3.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 FJD 2.88

$1.65 ฿55.5

-21.82%

White Bread (500g)

$0.49 FJD 1.10

$1.57 ฿52.7

-68.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.80 FJD 1.79

$1.19 ฿40.05

-32.77%

Eggs

$3.30 FJD 7.38

$1.94 ฿65.1

70.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.21 FJD 20.61

$16.19 ฿545

-43.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.12 FJD 15.93

$2.99 ฿101

138.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.59 FJD 16.99

$10.94 ฿368

-30.62%

Apples (1kg)

$2.47 FJD 5.53

$2.71 ฿91.2

-8.86%

Banana (1kg)

$2.47 FJD 5.52

$1.17 ฿39.27

111.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.80 FJD 6.27

$1.69 ฿56.8

65.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.19 FJD 7.15

$1.60 ฿54.0

99.37%

Potato (1kg)

$1.01 FJD 2.25

$1.38 ฿46.56

-26.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.00 FJD 2.23

$1.20 ฿40.47

-16.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 FJD 2.06

$0.67 ฿22.51

37.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 FJD 1.80

$0.56 ฿18.74

42.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.21 FJD 20.61

$4.64 ฿156

98.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.25 FJD 11.75

$17.62 ฿593

-70.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.19 FJD 4.91

$1.86 ฿62.6

17.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 FJD 6.06

$3.30 ฿111

-17.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 FJD 1.55

$0.88 ฿29.70

-21.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.56 FJD 84.1

$19.34 ฿651

94.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.65 FJD 1.46

$1.36 ฿45.92

-52.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 FJD 1.01

$1.34 ฿45.00

-66.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.75 FJD 6.15

$8.21 ฿276

-66.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 FJD 3.02

$1.22 ฿41.20

10.66%

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

$19.3K FJD 43.1K

$21.4K ฿718.5K

-9.72%

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

$21.9K FJD 49.1K

$22.5K ฿758.1K

-2.59%

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

$45.50 FJD 102

$70.7 ฿2,378

-35.62%

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

$13.08 FJD 29.28

$14.04 ฿472

-6.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.81 FJD 53.3

$17.49 ฿589

36.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,418

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

Cinema Ticket

$3.61 FJD 8.08

$5.92 ฿199

-39.02%

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

$222 FJD 496

$309 ฿10.4K

-28.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.4K FJD 32.2K

$14.9K ฿500.7K

-3.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.66 FJD 39.52

$55.8 ฿1,876

-68.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.09 FJD 40.50

$26.11 ฿879

-30.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.3 FJD 146

$83.0 ฿2,793

-21.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$61.8 FJD 138

$70.5 ฿2,371

-12.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$349 FJD 781

$432 ฿14.5K

-19.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$135 FJD 303

$239 ฿8,040

-43.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$841 FJD 1,882

$822 ฿27.7K

2.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$400 FJD 896

$512 ฿17.2K

-21.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$692 FJD 1,548

$579 ฿19.5K

19.38%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

40.00%

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

Last update for Lautoka: July 11, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $349 in Lautoka versus $432 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 19% higher in Lautoka, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Lautoka versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $220 in Lautoka vs $243 in Chiang Mai – so Lautoka wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Lautoka vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 27% more than Lautoka, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,018 per month in Lautoka and $1,292 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Lautoka, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $222 per month in Lautoka and $309 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 11% 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.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $678 in Lautoka and $861 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Lautoka costs $678 versus $861 in Chiang Mai. 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 Lautoka. 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.