Cost of Living Comparison Between Livingstone and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Livingstone and Chiang Mai

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $208 per month in Livingstone vs $950 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $388 per month in Livingstone vs $1,430 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $569 per month in Livingstone vs $1,909 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Livingstone is about 78% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.91 ZMW 152

$2.10 ฿69.4

276.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.86 ZMW 613

$19.84 ฿656

60.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.33 ZMW 180

$5.79 ฿192

61.14%

Cappuccino

$5.34 ZMW 103

$1.83 ฿60.5

191.80%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 ฿25.63

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 ZMW 7.36

$0.31 ฿10.38

22.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.3

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.8

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.80

Eggs

$2.18 ฿72.0

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.9

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.23

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.9

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.16

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.40

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.41

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.50

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿142

Wine (Bottle)

$21.07 ZMW 406

$17.97 ฿594

17.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.8

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.15

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,828

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.80

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.57 ZMW 49.53

$0.53 ฿17.67

384.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.4

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.60

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.2K ฿700.9K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.3K ฿903.0K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$64.9 ฿2,147

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.35 ฿442

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿689

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,337

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$787 ฿26.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿500.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,859

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿825

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,066

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,484

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,500

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿48.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Livingstone: September 7, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Livingstone versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $42.00 in Livingstone vs $242 in Chiang Mai – so Livingstone 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

Livingstone vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 357% more than Livingstone, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $312 per month in Livingstone and $1,426 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $208 in Livingstone and $950 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 475% 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.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Livingstone, where all-in costs run around $208, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Livingstone it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Livingstone costs $208 versus $950 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Livingstone. 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.