😐A single person spends $2,117 per month in Leoben vs $947 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,199 per month in Leoben vs $1,411 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,280 per month in Leoben vs $1,874 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Leoben costs about 123% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Leoben sits 54% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 31% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Leoben
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.67€15.21
$2.08฿68.5
749.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59.2€50.9
$19.64฿646
201.43%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.88€11.08
$5.65฿186
127.96%
Cappuccino
$4.04€3.48
$1.81฿59.3
123.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.74€3.22
$0.71฿23.44
426.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27€1.95
$0.32฿10.38
609.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.96€4.27
$2.24฿73.5
121.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.92€4.23
$3.63฿119
35.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Leoben
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.48€1.27
$1.96฿64.4
-24.49%
White Bread(500g)
$2.85€2.45
$1.50฿49.38
90.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.83€1.57
$1.34฿43.92
36.57%
Eggs
$4.55€3.92
$2.26฿74.4
101.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.90€16.26
$16.26฿534
16.24%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.75€12.69
$2.95฿97.1
400.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$21.97€18.91
$9.94฿327
121.03%
Apples(1kg)
$2.46€2.11
$2.57฿84.5
-4.28%
Banana(1kg)
$2.34€2.01
$1.06฿34.72
120.75%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.55€2.19
$1.61฿53.0
58.39%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.72€3.20
$1.52฿49.96
144.74%
Potato(1kg)
$2.31€1.98
$1.27฿41.76
81.89%
Onion(1kg)
$2.22€1.91
$1.07฿35.05
107.48%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.76€1.52
$0.72฿23.67
144.44%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.03€0.88
$0.51฿16.72
101.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.29€6.27
$4.19฿138
73.99%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.92€5.95
$17.87฿587
-61.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.42€1.22
$1.69฿55.7
-15.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74€1.50
$2.84฿93.2
-38.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Leoben
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.58€3.08
$0.93฿30.42
284.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$66.2€56.9
$53.9฿1,770
22.84%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$7.42€6.38
$1.23฿40.58
503.25%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.18€1.02
$0.58฿18.96
103.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.63€25.50
$2.42฿79.7
1124.38%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.90€1.64
$1.41฿46.42
34.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.8K€26.5K
$21.4K฿704.9K
43.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.2K€26.0K
$27.3K฿898.5K
10.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Leoben
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$309€266
$63.7฿2,093
385.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.69€13.50
$12.85฿423
22.10%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.54€35.74
$20.22฿665
105.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Leoben
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.31€36.40
$38.74฿1,274
9.22%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$40.25€34.64
$3.97฿130
913.85%
Cinema Ticket
$13.52€11.64
$6.74฿221
100.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Leoben
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$108€93.0
$778฿25.6K
-86.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.5K€12.5K
$14.6K฿480.2K
-0.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Leoben
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.4€45.05
$54.3฿1,785
-3.57%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.21€29.44
$25.45฿836
34.42%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€88.9
$94.3฿3,101
9.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$131€113
$73.4฿2,414
78.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Leoben
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$931€801
$490฿16.1K
90.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$843€726
$289฿9,510
191.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,584€1,363
$894฿29.4K
77.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,524€1,311
$517฿17.0K
194.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,131€6,997
$1,955฿64.3K
315.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,608€5,687
$1,477฿48.5K
347.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Leoben
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,819€2,426
$602฿19.8K
368.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.65
5.57
-34.47%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Leoben: September 1, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $931 in Leoben 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 368% higher in Leoben, 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 $59.0 in Leoben versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $375 vs $240 – 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
Leoben vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Leoben or Chiang Mai?
Leoben costs about 123% 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 Leoben and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,176 per month in Leoben 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, Leoben 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 Leoben and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $108 per month in Leoben 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 Leoben or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 56% more in Leoben, 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 Leoben or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $947, than in Leoben at $2,117. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Leoben it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Leoben or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $947 versus $2,117 in Leoben. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Leoben 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 Leoben or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Leoben makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.