🙂A single person spends $415 per month in Layyah vs $947 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $641 per month in Layyah vs $1,411 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $866 per month in Layyah vs $1,874 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Layyah is about 56% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Layyah and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Layyah70% lower, Chiang Mai31% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Layyah
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.82PKR 505
$2.08฿68.6
-12.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.95PKR 3,039
$19.64฿646
-44.25%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.42PKR 1,502
$5.65฿186
-4.07%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.58PKR 717
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19PKR 606
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.45PKR 402
$1.81฿59.4
-19.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43PKR 119
$0.71฿23.45
-39.44%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32PKR 89.1
$0.32฿10.38
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.24฿73.6
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.63฿119
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Layyah
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.84PKR 234
$1.96฿64.4
-57.14%
White Bread(500g)
$0.65PKR 180
$1.50฿49.39
-56.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.22PKR 337
$1.34฿43.93
-8.96%
Eggs
$1.24PKR 345
$2.26฿74.5
-45.13%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.63PKR 2,395
$16.26฿535
-46.92%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.65PKR 734
$2.95฿97.1
-10.17%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$3.89PKR 1,079
$9.94฿327
-60.87%
Apples(1kg)
$1.04PKR 289
$2.57฿84.6
-59.53%
Banana(1kg)
$0.63PKR 174
$1.06฿34.73
-40.57%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.57PKR 159
$1.61฿53.0
-64.60%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.50PKR 139
$1.52฿49.97
-67.11%
Potato(1kg)
$0.29PKR 80.1
$1.27฿41.77
-77.17%
Onion(1kg)
$0.53PKR 147
$1.07฿35.06
-50.47%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.49PKR 137
$0.72฿23.68
-31.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.40PKR 110
$0.51฿16.72
-21.57%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$0.57PKR 157
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.56PKR 155
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70PKR 193
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.36PKR 655
$4.19฿138
-43.68%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$17.87฿587
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.69฿55.7
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.84฿93.3
-
🚌 Getting Around
Layyah
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.21PKR 57.3
$0.93฿30.43
-77.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.52PKR 2,918
$53.9฿1,771
-80.47%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.10PKR 306
$1.23฿40.59
-10.57%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.09PKR 303
$0.58฿18.96
87.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.83PKR 786
$2.42฿79.7
16.94%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.15PKR 320
$1.41฿46.43
-18.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.2KPKR 6.4M
$21.4K฿705.1K
7.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.0KPKR 6.4M
$27.3K฿898.7K
-15.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Layyah
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$66.7PKR 18.5K
$63.7฿2,093
4.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.43PKR 1,507
$12.85฿423
-57.74%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.91PKR 3,303
$20.22฿665
-41.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Layyah
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$15.43PKR 4,280
$38.74฿1,274
-60.17%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.97฿130
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.30PKR 2,025
$6.74฿222
8.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Layyah
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$26.60PKR 7,379
$778฿25.6K
-96.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,050PKR 568.6K
$14.6K฿480.4K
-85.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Layyah
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$18.78PKR 5,211
$54.3฿1,785
-65.41%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.13PKR 7,249
$25.45฿837
2.67%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$53.6PKR 14.9K
$94.3฿3,102
-43.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$29.20PKR 8,100
$73.4฿2,415
-60.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Layyah
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$126PKR 34.9K
$490฿16.1K
-74.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$68.2PKR 18.9K
$289฿9,512
-76.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$268PKR 74.4K
$894฿29.4K
-70.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$165PKR 45.9K
$517฿17.0K
-68.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$897PKR 248.7K
$1,955฿64.3K
-54.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$469PKR 130.1K
$1,477฿48.6K
-68.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Layyah
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$602฿19.8K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.83
5.57
112.39%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Layyah: August 29, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $126 in Layyah versus $490 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $11.00 in Layyah versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $98.0 vs $240 – making Layyah the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Layyah vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Layyah or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 128% more than Layyah, 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 Layyah and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $622 per month in Layyah and $1,421 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Layyah or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Layyah, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Layyah and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $26.60 per month in Layyah and $778 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Layyah or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 145% 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 $1,500/month in Layyah or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Layyah, where all-in costs run around $415, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Layyah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Layyah or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Layyah costs $415 versus $947 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Layyah 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 Layyah or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Layyah. 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.