🙂A single person spends $726 per month in Le Bardo vs $947 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,117 per month in Le Bardo vs $1,411 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,509 per month in Le Bardo vs $1,874 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Le Bardo is about 23% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Le Bardo and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Le Bardo47% lower, Chiang Mai31% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Le Bardo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.47TND 10.02
$2.08฿68.6
66.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.97TND 63.6
$19.64฿646
11.86%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.09TND 14.73
$5.65฿186
-9.91%
Cappuccino
$1.09TND 3.16
$1.81฿59.4
-39.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66TND 1.90
$0.71฿23.45
-7.04%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27TND 0.78
$0.32฿10.38
-15.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.68TND 4.86
$2.24฿73.6
-25.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42TND 7.01
$3.63฿119
-33.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Le Bardo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.49TND 1.40
$1.96฿64.4
-75.00%
White Bread(500g)
$0.25TND 0.73
$1.50฿49.39
-83.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.45TND 4.19
$1.34฿43.93
8.21%
Eggs
$1.67TND 4.84
$2.26฿74.5
-26.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.45TND 30.23
$16.26฿535
-35.73%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.78TND 16.72
$2.95฿97.1
95.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.28TND 41.31
$9.94฿327
43.66%
Apples(1kg)
$1.86TND 5.37
$2.57฿84.6
-27.63%
Banana(1kg)
$3.56TND 10.30
$1.06฿34.73
235.85%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.12TND 3.23
$1.61฿53.0
-30.43%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.74TND 2.14
$1.52฿49.97
-51.32%
Potato(1kg)
$0.84TND 2.44
$1.27฿41.77
-33.86%
Onion(1kg)
$0.86TND 2.47
$1.07฿35.06
-19.63%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.58TND 1.69
$0.72฿23.68
-19.44%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.34TND 0.99
$0.51฿16.72
-33.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.71TND 10.73
$4.19฿138
-11.46%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.83TND 19.75
$17.87฿587
-61.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.32TND 3.81
$1.69฿55.7
-21.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.07TND 3.10
$2.84฿93.3
-62.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Le Bardo
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.35TND 1.01
$0.93฿30.43
-62.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.32TND 29.83
$53.9฿1,771
-80.84%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.33TND 0.95
$1.23฿40.59
-73.17%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.33TND 0.95
$0.58฿18.96
-43.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.84TND 5.31
$2.42฿79.7
-23.97%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.84TND 2.44
$1.41฿46.43
-40.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.9KTND 115.4K
$21.4K฿705.1K
86.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.9KTND 109.7K
$27.3K฿898.7K
38.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Le Bardo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$62.8TND 182
$63.7฿2,093
-1.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.65TND 27.90
$12.85฿423
-24.90%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.52TND 59.3
$20.22฿665
1.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Le Bardo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.53TND 126
$38.74฿1,274
12.36%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.47TND 41.85
$3.97฿130
264.48%
Cinema Ticket
$5.35TND 15.47
$6.74฿222
-20.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Le Bardo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$111TND 320
$778฿25.6K
-85.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,929TND 8,470
$14.6K฿480.4K
-79.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Le Bardo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.3TND 148
$54.3฿1,785
-5.45%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.46TND 131
$25.45฿837
78.62%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102TND 295
$94.3฿3,102
7.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5TND 250
$73.4฿2,415
17.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Le Bardo
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$257TND 744
$490฿16.1K
-47.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$154TND 444
$289฿9,512
-46.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$402TND 1,163
$894฿29.4K
-54.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$257TND 744
$517฿17.0K
-50.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$967TND 2,795
$1,955฿64.3K
-50.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$643TND 1,860
$1,477฿48.6K
-56.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Le Bardo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$391TND 1,131
$602฿19.8K
-35.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11
5.57
97.49%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Le Bardo: August 29, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $257 in Le Bardo 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.
💰Salaries run about 54% 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 $22.00 in Le Bardo versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $195 in Le Bardo vs $240 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 31% more than Le Bardo, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. 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 and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,089 per month in Le Bardo 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, 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 in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $111 per month in Le Bardo 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 Le Bardo or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 23% 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 Le Bardo or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Le Bardo, where all-in costs run around $726, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Le Bardo 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, Le Bardo or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Le Bardo costs $726 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 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 to 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.