😐A single person spends $1,697 per month in Lecco vs $932 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,551 per month in Lecco vs $1,399 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,405 per month in Lecco vs $1,866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Lecco costs about 82% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Lecco sits 24% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 32% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lecco
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.95€17.39
$2.08฿69.5
859.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$93.9€81.9
$19.61฿655
378.99%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.42€9.95
$5.67฿189
101.41%
Cappuccino
$1.85€1.61
$1.81฿60.3
2.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.74€3.26
$0.77฿25.65
385.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75€1.52
$0.35฿11.53
400.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.40€5.58
$2.21฿73.9
189.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.93€5.17
$3.79฿127
56.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lecco
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.66€1.45
$2.05฿68.4
-19.02%
White Bread(500g)
$3.26€2.84
$1.51฿50.6
115.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.40€1.22
$1.40฿46.69
-
Eggs
$2.79€2.43
$2.26฿75.4
23.45%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.11€6.20
$16.19฿540
-56.08%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.33€13.36
$2.90฿96.7
428.62%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.44€6.48
$9.42฿314
-21.02%
Apples(1kg)
$1.94€1.69
$2.68฿89.4
-27.61%
Banana(1kg)
$1.12€0.98
$1.09฿36.37
2.75%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.51€3.06
$1.62฿54.0
116.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.77€3.29
$1.46฿48.74
158.22%
Potato(1kg)
$1.77€1.55
$1.28฿42.65
38.28%
Onion(1kg)
$1.36€1.19
$1.06฿35.31
28.30%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.82€1.59
$0.72฿23.94
152.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.64€0.55
$0.53฿17.56
20.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.91
$4.23฿141
60.28%
Wine(Bottle)
$2.61€2.27
$18.29฿611
-85.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.73€0.64
$1.63฿54.4
-55.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45€2.14
$2.90฿96.8
-15.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Lecco
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.99
$0.88฿29.32
159.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$65.2€56.8
$53.8฿1,795
21.28%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.69€4.96
$1.17฿39.14
386.32%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.37€2.07
$0.58฿19.30
308.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$62.5€54.5
$2.39฿79.6
2513.81%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.20€1.92
$1.45฿48.41
51.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.0K€33.1K
$21.0K฿701.4K
80.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.3K€32.5K
$26.4K฿882.0K
41.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lecco
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$198€172
$63.7฿2,125
210.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.86€9.47
$12.89฿430
-15.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.35€25.59
$20.52฿685
43.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lecco
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$28.65€24.97
$39.02฿1,302
-26.58%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.47€10.00
$3.92฿131
192.60%
Cinema Ticket
$9.43€8.22
$6.58฿220
43.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lecco
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$883€770
$784฿26.2K
12.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,451€3,009
$14.7K฿489.8K
-76.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lecco
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$109€94.6
$55.1฿1,840
96.90%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.9€46.14
$24.74฿826
113.95%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$117€102
$94.1฿3,142
23.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$140€122
$74.0฿2,469
88.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lecco
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$864€754
$490฿16.4K
76.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$570€497
$288฿9,620
97.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,531€1,335
$891฿29.8K
71.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$692€603
$521฿17.4K
32.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,967€3,458
$1,974฿65.9K
100.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,733€1,510
$1,444฿48.2K
19.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lecco
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,306€2,010
$602฿20.1K
283.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.17
5.57
-43.09%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lecco: September 14, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $864 in Lecco 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 283% higher in Lecco, 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 $94.0 in Lecco versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $272 vs $241 – making Chiang Mai 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
Lecco vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lecco or Chiang Mai?
Lecco costs about 82% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. 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 Lecco and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,546 per month in Lecco and $1,398 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Lecco or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, 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 Lecco and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $883 per month in Lecco and $784 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 Lecco or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 13% more in Lecco, 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 Lecco or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $932, than in Lecco at $1,697. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lecco it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lecco or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $932 versus $1,697 in Lecco. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Lecco 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 Lecco or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lecco makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.