Cost of Living Comparison Between Le Bardo and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Le Bardo and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $690 per month in Le Bardo vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,090 per month in Le Bardo vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,490 per month in Le Bardo vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Le Bardo is about 20% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Le Bardo and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Le Bardo 49% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Le Bardo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.41 TND 9.89
$1.94 ฿63.5
75.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.73 TND 74.7
$18.64 ฿609
38.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.79 TND 13.90
$7.82 ฿255
-38.75%
Cappuccino
$1.07 TND 3.10
$1.95 ฿63.8
-45.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60 TND 1.76
$0.85 ฿27.77
-29.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26 TND 0.75
$0.35 ฿11.58
-25.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.67 TND 4.86
$2.13 ฿69.6
-21.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43 TND 7.04
$3.73 ฿122
-34.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Le Bardo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.50 TND 1.45
$1.71 ฿56.0
-70.76%
White Bread (500g)
$0.17 TND 0.50
$1.63 ฿53.2
-89.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.54 TND 4.46
$1.14 ฿37.15
35.09%
Eggs
$1.49 TND 4.33
$1.93 ฿63.1
-22.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.65 TND 30.92
$16.21 ฿530
-34.30%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.83 TND 16.92
$3.12 ฿102
86.86%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.28 TND 38.57
$10.90 ฿356
21.83%
Apples (1kg)
$2.04 TND 5.93
$2.75 ฿90.0
-25.82%
Banana (1kg)
$2.96 TND 8.59
$1.21 ฿39.52
144.63%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.02 TND 2.95
$1.62 ฿53.0
-37.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.74 TND 2.15
$1.59 ฿51.8
-53.46%
Potato (1kg)
$0.78 TND 2.27
$1.40 ฿45.70
-44.29%
Onion (1kg)
$0.71 TND 2.07
$1.17 ฿38.17
-39.32%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.49 TND 1.41
$0.66 ฿21.60
-25.76%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.30 TND 0.88
$0.53 ฿17.22
-43.40%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.61 TND 10.49
$4.69 ฿153
-23.03%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.18 TND 15.04
$18.66 ฿609
-72.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 TND 3.73
$1.80 ฿58.8
-28.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06 TND 3.07
$3.23 ฿106
-67.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Le Bardo
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.33 TND 0.95
$0.90 ฿29.26
-63.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.28 TND 29.85
$19.21 ฿628
-46.49%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.30 TND 0.86
$1.41 ฿45.91
-78.72%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.33 TND 0.97
$1.29 ฿42.12
-74.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.33 TND 9.66
$7.84 ฿256
-57.53%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.90 TND 2.61
$1.27 ฿41.58
-29.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.9K TND 107.1K
$21.3K ฿694.9K
73.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.7K TND 109.5K
$22.2K ฿725.4K
69.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Le Bardo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$57.8 TND 168
$69.1 ฿2,256
-16.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95 TND 28.88
$14.08 ฿460
-29.33%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.18 TND 61.5
$18.00 ฿588
17.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Le Bardo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.90 TND 125
$41.06 ฿1,341
4.48%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.68 TND 33.91
$6.96 ฿227
67.82%
Cinema Ticket
$5.27 TND 15.30
$5.92 ฿193
-10.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Le Bardo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$110 TND 318
$299 ฿9,766
-63.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,826 TND 8,205
$15.0K ฿488.3K
-81.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Le Bardo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.30 TND 132
$54.7 ฿1,787
-17.18%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.81 TND 130
$26.77 ฿874
67.39%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.1 TND 285
$85.0 ฿2,776
15.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.3 TND 227
$70.6 ฿2,306
10.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Le Bardo
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$247 TND 716
$428 ฿14.0K
-42.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$150 TND 434
$237 ฿7,752
-36.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$403 TND 1,172
$801 ฿26.2K
-49.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$253 TND 734
$515 ฿16.8K
-50.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$982 TND 2,851
$1,975 ฿64.5K
-50.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$639 TND 1,854
$1,475 ฿48.2K
-56.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Le Bardo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$396 TND 1,151
$617 ฿20.2K
-35.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11
5
120.00%

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

Last update for Le Bardo: June 2, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $247 in Le Bardo 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 56% 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 $26.00 in Le Bardo versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $184 in Le Bardo vs $246 in Chiang Mai – so Le Bardo 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
Le Bardo vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Le Bardo or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 26% more than Le Bardo, 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 Le Bardo vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,035 per month in Le Bardo 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, Le Bardo or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Le Bardo, 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 Le Bardo and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $110 per month in Le Bardo 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 Le Bardo or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 34% 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 Le Bardo or Chiang Mai?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $690 in Le Bardo and $866 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Le Bardo or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Le Bardo costs $690 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 Le Bardo 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 Le Bardo or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Le Bardo. 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.

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