🙂A single person spends $196 per month in Lelydorp vs $932 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $401 per month in Lelydorp vs $1,399 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $605 per month in Lelydorp vs $1,866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Lelydorp is about 79% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Lelydorp and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Lelydorp86% lower, Chiang Mai32% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lelydorp
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.04SRD 190
$2.08฿69.5
142.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.69SRD 1,307
$19.61฿655
76.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.98SRD 225
$5.67฿189
5.47%
Cappuccino
-
$1.81฿60.3
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29SRD 48.48
$0.77฿25.65
67.53%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47SRD 17.61
$0.35฿11.53
34.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.05SRD 77.4
$2.21฿73.9
-7.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95SRD 111
$3.79฿127
-22.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lelydorp
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.18SRD 44.42
$2.05฿68.4
-42.44%
White Bread(500g)
$1.02SRD 38.40
$1.51฿50.6
-32.45%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.18SRD 44.63
$1.40฿46.69
-15.71%
Eggs
$2.88SRD 108
$2.26฿75.4
27.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$16.19฿540
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.10SRD 155
$2.90฿96.7
41.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.15SRD 307
$9.42฿314
-13.48%
Apples(1kg)
-
$2.68฿89.4
-
Banana(1kg)
$1.52SRD 57.3
$1.09฿36.37
39.45%
Oranges(1kg)
-
$1.62฿54.0
-
Tomato(1kg)
-
$1.46฿48.74
-
Potato(1kg)
$1.01SRD 38.07
$1.28฿42.65
-21.09%
Onion(1kg)
$1.02SRD 38.58
$1.06฿35.31
-3.77%
Lettuce(1 head)
-
$0.72฿23.94
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83SRD 31.19
$0.53฿17.56
56.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.23฿141
-
Wine(Bottle)
-
$18.29฿611
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.98SRD 74.6
$1.63฿54.4
21.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.90฿96.8
-
🚌 Getting Around
Lelydorp
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52SRD 19.70
$0.88฿29.32
-40.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$53.8฿1,795
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$1.17฿39.14
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$0.58฿19.30
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$2.39฿79.6
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.93SRD 35.16
$1.45฿48.41
-35.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$21.0K฿701.4K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$26.4K฿882.0K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lelydorp
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$63.7฿2,125
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$12.89฿430
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$20.52฿685
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lelydorp
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$39.02฿1,302
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.92฿131
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$6.58฿220
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lelydorp
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$784฿26.2K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$14.7K฿489.8K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lelydorp
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$55.1฿1,840
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$24.74฿826
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$94.1฿3,142
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$74.0฿2,469
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lelydorp
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$490฿16.4K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$288฿9,620
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$891฿29.8K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$521฿17.4K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,974฿65.9K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,444฿48.2K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lelydorp
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$302SRD 11.4K
$602฿20.1K
-49.77%
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: September 14, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Salaries run about 99% 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 $35.00 in Lelydorp versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $117 in Lelydorp vs $241 in Chiang Mai – so Lelydorp 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
Lelydorp vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lelydorp or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 376% more than Lelydorp, 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 Lelydorp and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $294 per month in Lelydorp and $1,398 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 $196 in Lelydorp and $932 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Are groceries more expensive in Lelydorp or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 106% 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 Lelydorp or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Lelydorp, where all-in costs run around $196, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Lelydorp 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, Lelydorp or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Lelydorp costs $196 versus $932 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Lelydorp 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 Lelydorp or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Lelydorp. 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.