🙂A single person spends $337 per month in Layyah vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $522 per month in Layyah vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $708 per month in Layyah vs $1,835 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 Mai35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Layyah
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.82PKR 505
$1.94฿63.5
-6.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.80PKR 3,004
$18.64฿609
-42.06%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.49PKR 972
$7.82฿255
-55.37%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.77PKR 771
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.79PKR 1,331
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.45PKR 402
$1.95฿63.8
-25.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33PKR 92.4
$0.85฿27.77
-61.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24PKR 66.9
$0.35฿11.58
-31.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.13฿69.6
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.73฿122
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Layyah
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.48PKR 134
$1.71฿56.0
-71.93%
White Bread(500g)
$0.34PKR 94.1
$1.63฿53.2
-79.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.25PKR 348
$1.14฿37.15
9.65%
Eggs
$1.08PKR 301
$1.93฿63.1
-44.04%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.91PKR 1,645
$16.21฿530
-63.54%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.35PKR 653
$3.12฿102
-24.68%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$3.03PKR 842
$10.90฿356
-72.20%
Apples(1kg)
$0.72PKR 201
$2.75฿90.0
-73.82%
Banana(1kg)
$0.36PKR 101
$1.21฿39.52
-70.25%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.67PKR 186
$1.62฿53.0
-58.64%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.49PKR 136
$1.59฿51.8
-69.18%
Potato(1kg)
$0.35PKR 97.4
$1.40฿45.70
-75.00%
Onion(1kg)
$0.54PKR 151
$1.17฿38.17
-53.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.63PKR 177
$0.66฿21.60
-4.55%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.34PKR 93.8
$0.53฿17.22
-35.85%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$1.04PKR 288
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.70PKR 194
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02PKR 561
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.90PKR 528
$4.69฿153
-59.49%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$18.66฿609
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.80฿58.8
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.23฿106
-
🚌 Getting Around
Layyah
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.20PKR 56.4
$0.90฿29.26
-77.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$7.05PKR 1,962
$19.21฿628
-63.30%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.09PKR 302
$1.41฿45.91
-22.70%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.40PKR 112
$1.29฿42.12
-68.99%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.79PKR 498
$7.84฿256
-77.17%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.97PKR 271
$1.27฿41.58
-23.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5KPKR 6.2M
$21.3K฿694.9K
5.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.4KPKR 5.9M
$22.2K฿725.4K
-3.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Layyah
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$57.9PKR 16.1K
$69.1฿2,256
-16.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.64PKR 1,012
$14.08฿460
-74.15%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.77PKR 3,553
$18.00฿588
-29.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Layyah
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$12.53PKR 3,485
$41.06฿1,341
-69.48%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.02PKR 1,674
$6.96฿227
-13.51%
Cinema Ticket
$3.58PKR 997
$5.92฿193
-39.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Layyah
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$17.43PKR 4,848
$299฿9,766
-94.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$523PKR 145.6K
$15.0K฿488.3K
-96.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Layyah
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$16.06PKR 4,468
$54.7฿1,787
-70.64%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.05PKR 6,134
$26.77฿874
-17.63%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$60.5PKR 16.8K
$85.0฿2,776
-28.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$26.05PKR 7,248
$70.6฿2,306
-63.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Layyah
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$75.8PKR 21.1K
$428฿14.0K
-82.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$51.8PKR 14.4K
$237฿7,752
-78.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$167PKR 46.4K
$801฿26.2K
-79.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$104PKR 29.0K
$515฿16.8K
-79.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$874PKR 243.1K
$1,975฿64.5K
-55.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$500PKR 139.1K
$1,475฿48.2K
-66.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Layyah
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$617฿20.2K
-
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: May 30, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $75.8 in Layyah 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $11.00 in Layyah versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $76.0 vs $246 – 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 157% 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 vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $505 per month in Layyah 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, 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 Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $17.43 per month in Layyah and $299 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 Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 225% 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 Chiang Mai?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $337 in Layyah and $866 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 $337 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 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 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.