Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lelydorp and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Lelydorp: $198 a month against $936 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $8,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Lelydorp, Suriname
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Lelydorp
🇸🇷 Suriname
$198
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$936
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lelydorp and in Chiang Mai

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Lelydorp and in Chiang Mai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $198 per month in Lelydorp vs $936 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Lelydorp $198
  • Chiang Mai $936

A couple spends around $404 per month in Lelydorp vs $1,457 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Lelydorp $404
  • Chiang Mai $1,457

A family of three spends $610 per month in Lelydorp vs $1,979 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Lelydorp $610
  • Chiang Mai $1,979

Lelydorp is about 79% cheaper than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Lelydorp and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Lelydorp 85% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lelydorp
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.06 SRD 189
$2.24 ฿75.6
125.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.04 SRD 1,310
$19.00 ฿641
84.42%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.06 SRD 227
$5.55 ฿187
9.19%
Cappuccino
-
$1.67 ฿56.5
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27 SRD 47.42
$0.64 ฿21.54
98.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 SRD 17.35
$0.31 ฿10.31
48.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.99 SRD 74.4
$2.36 ฿79.5
-15.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.04 SRD 114
$3.66 ฿124
-16.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lelydorp
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.18 SRD 44.05
$1.95 ฿65.7
-39.49%
White Bread (500g)
$0.98 SRD 36.47
$1.44 ฿48.46
-31.94%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.18 SRD 44.09
$1.33 ฿45.03
-11.28%
Eggs
$2.79 SRD 104
$2.28 ฿77.1
22.37%
Local Cheese (1kg)
-
$16.45 ฿555
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.88 SRD 145
$2.78 ฿93.9
39.57%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.79 SRD 291
$9.31 ฿314
-16.33%
Apples (1kg)
-
$2.35 ฿79.4
-
Banana (1kg)
$1.47 SRD 54.8
$0.97 ฿32.79
51.55%
Oranges (1kg)
-
$1.60 ฿53.9
-
Tomato (1kg)
-
$1.50 ฿50.6
-
Potato (1kg)
$0.99 SRD 36.98
$1.28 ฿43.11
-22.66%
Onion (1kg)
$0.98 SRD 36.74
$1.10 ฿37.18
-10.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$0.71 ฿23.82
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86 SRD 32.34
$0.49 ฿16.36
75.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.14 ฿140
-
Wine (Bottle)
-
$17.52 ฿591
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06 SRD 76.9
$1.61 ฿54.5
27.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.78 ฿93.9
-
🚌 Getting Around
Lelydorp
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.52 SRD 19.42
$0.87 ฿29.30
-40.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$54.1 ฿1,825
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$1.16 ฿39.04
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$0.53 ฿17.80
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$2.42 ฿81.7
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.88 SRD 33.08
$1.45 ฿48.88
-39.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$21.1K ฿710.5K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$26.9K ฿909.0K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lelydorp
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$62.2 ฿2,098
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$12.17 ฿411
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$20.12 ฿679
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lelydorp
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$37.31 ฿1,259
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.77 ฿127
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$6.49 ฿219
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lelydorp
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$736 ฿24.8K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$14.8K ฿498.2K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lelydorp
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$53.4 ฿1,801
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$24.64 ฿831
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$91.5 ฿3,087
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$71.9 ฿2,427
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lelydorp
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$482 ฿16.3K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$309 ฿10.4K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,006 ฿33.9K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$633 ฿21.4K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,363 ฿79.7K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,589 ฿53.6K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lelydorp
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$302 SRD 11.3K
$590 ฿19.9K
-48.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
17
5.57
205.21%

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

Last update for Lelydorp: October 27, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Lelydorp
–
Chiang Mai
$309
Groceries & Markets
Lelydorp
–
Chiang Mai
$234
Clothing & Footwear
Lelydorp
–
Chiang Mai
$109
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lelydorp
–
Chiang Mai
$94
Eating Out
Lelydorp
–
Chiang Mai
$78
Getting Around
Lelydorp
–
Chiang Mai
$61
Sport & Entertainment
Lelydorp
–
Chiang Mai
$50

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 96% 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 $35 in Lelydorp versus $19 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $115 in Lelydorp vs $234 in Chiang Mai – so Lelydorp wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇸🇷 Lelydorp
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
22:44 10:44 PM
08:44 8:44 AM
10 h ahead of Lelydorp
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
19,000
127,240
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to SRD – Surinamese Dollar Converter

Surinamese Dollar exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 37.39 SRD (100 SRD = 2.67 USD). 1 EUR = 41.75 SRD (100 SRD = 2.4 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 33.74 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.67 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Lelydorp Chiang Mai 16,090 km ≈ 21 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Lelydorp
  • Chiang Mai

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Lelydorp vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lelydorp or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 372% more than Lelydorp, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. 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 Lelydorp and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $297 per month in Lelydorp and $1,403 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How much does it cost to live in Lelydorp compared to Chiang Mai?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $198 in Lelydorp and $936 in Chiang Mai. That makes Lelydorp about 79% cheaper.
Are groceries more expensive in Lelydorp or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 105% more in Chiang Mai, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $800/month in Lelydorp or in Chiang Mai?
A $800 monthly budget goes further in Lelydorp, where all-in costs run around $198, than in Chiang Mai at $936. In Lelydorp it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Lelydorp or Chiang Mai?
It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $198 in Lelydorp to $936 in Chiang Mai. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How safe is Lelydorp compared to Chiang Mai?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
Should I move to Lelydorp or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Lelydorp. If higher salaries 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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