🙂A single person spends $332 per month in Layyah vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $511 per month in Layyah vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $690 per month in Layyah vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Layyah is about 61% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Layyah and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Layyah75% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Layyah
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.82PKR 505
$1.96฿65.8
-7.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.69PKR 2,968
$18.35฿617
-41.74%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.49PKR 968
$7.48฿252
-53.34%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.80PKR 778
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.75PKR 1,320
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.52PKR 423
$2.02฿67.8
-24.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31PKR 85.3
$0.85฿28.50
-63.53%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.22PKR 61.0
$0.36฿11.96
-38.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.14฿71.8
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.59฿121
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Layyah
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.48PKR 133
$1.65฿55.5
-70.91%
White Bread(500g)
$0.34PKR 93.7
$1.57฿52.7
-78.34%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.21PKR 336
$1.19฿40.02
1.68%
Eggs
$1.08PKR 300
$1.94฿65.1
-44.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.91PKR 1,641
$16.19฿544
-63.50%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.36PKR 655
$2.99฿101
-21.07%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$3.03PKR 841
$10.94฿368
-72.30%
Apples(1kg)
$0.69PKR 191
$2.71฿91.2
-74.54%
Banana(1kg)
$0.34PKR 94.3
$1.17฿39.25
-70.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.67PKR 186
$1.69฿56.7
-60.36%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.49PKR 136
$1.60฿54.0
-69.38%
Potato(1kg)
$0.35PKR 96.8
$1.38฿46.54
-74.64%
Onion(1kg)
$0.55PKR 151
$1.20฿40.45
-54.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.59PKR 164
$0.67฿22.50
-11.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.34PKR 93.6
$0.56฿18.73
-39.29%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$1.01PKR 279
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.74PKR 206
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02PKR 561
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.90PKR 528
$4.64฿156
-59.05%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$17.62฿593
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.86฿62.5
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.30฿111
-
🚌 Getting Around
Layyah
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.17PKR 47.42
$0.88฿29.68
-80.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$6.91PKR 1,918
$19.34฿650
-64.27%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.09PKR 303
$1.36฿45.90
-19.85%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.40PKR 111
$1.34฿44.98
-70.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.82PKR 506
$8.21฿276
-77.83%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.97PKR 269
$1.22฿41.18
-20.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.2KPKR 6.2M
$21.4K฿718.1K
4.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.4KPKR 5.9M
$22.5K฿757.7K
-5.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Layyah
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$58.9PKR 16.3K
$70.7฿2,376
-16.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.65PKR 1,012
$14.04฿472
-74.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.69PKR 3,524
$17.49฿588
-27.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Layyah
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$12.44PKR 3,453
$42.15฿1,417
-70.49%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.00PKR 1,667
$6.88฿231
-12.79%
Cinema Ticket
$3.46PKR 961
$5.92฿199
-41.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Layyah
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$17.34PKR 4,814
$309฿10.4K
-94.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$532PKR 147.7K
$14.9K฿500.4K
-96.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Layyah
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$16.46PKR 4,570
$55.8฿1,875
-70.48%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.37PKR 6,211
$26.11฿878
-14.32%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$59.6PKR 16.6K
$83.0฿2,792
-28.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$25.89PKR 7,188
$70.5฿2,369
-63.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Layyah
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$75.7PKR 21.0K
$432฿14.5K
-82.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$51.6PKR 14.3K
$239฿8,035
-78.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$170PKR 47.1K
$822฿27.7K
-79.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$107PKR 29.7K
$512฿17.2K
-79.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$777PKR 215.7K
$1,915฿64.4K
-59.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$455PKR 126.2K
$1,467฿49.3K
-69.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Layyah
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$579฿19.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
18
5
260.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Layyah: July 13, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $75.7 in Layyah 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $11.00 in Layyah versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $75.0 vs $243 – 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 160% 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 $497 per month in Layyah and $1,292 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 $17.34 per month in Layyah and $309 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 224% 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 Layyah or in Chiang Mai?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $332 in Layyah and $861 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Layyah or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Layyah costs $332 versus $861 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.