ðA single person spends $1,658 per month in Lodi vs $872 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
ðA couple spends around $2,684 per month in Lodi vs $1,337 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
ðA family of three spends $3,709 per month in Lodi vs $1,802 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
ðLodi costs about 90% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðLodi sits 23% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 35% below â they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Lodi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.17âŽ13.76
$2.01āļŋ64.5
704.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.4âŽ58.2
$18.23āļŋ584
275.43%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.43âŽ9.73
$7.65āļŋ245
49.41%
Cappuccino
$1.98âŽ1.68
$1.92āļŋ61.5
3.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30âŽ2.80
$0.84āļŋ26.97
292.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55âŽ1.32
$0.36āļŋ11.42
330.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.91âŽ5.03
$2.19āļŋ70.2
169.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.89âŽ5.01
$3.79āļŋ121
55.41%
ð Groceries & Markets
Lodi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.96âŽ1.67
$1.64āļŋ52.5
19.51%
White Bread(500g)
$1.92âŽ1.64
$1.62āļŋ52.0
18.52%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.34âŽ1.99
$1.15āļŋ36.98
103.48%
Eggs
$2.06âŽ1.75
$1.94āļŋ62.2
6.19%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.61âŽ14.13
$15.94āļŋ511
4.20%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.13âŽ10.32
$3.10āļŋ99.5
291.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.20âŽ16.34
$11.07āļŋ355
73.44%
Apples(1kg)
$2.67âŽ2.27
$2.71āļŋ86.8
-1.48%
Banana(1kg)
$2.12âŽ1.81
$1.18āļŋ37.80
79.66%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.10âŽ2.64
$1.71āļŋ54.7
81.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.54âŽ2.16
$1.61āļŋ51.5
57.76%
Potato(1kg)
$2.14âŽ1.82
$1.39āļŋ44.66
53.96%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90âŽ1.62
$1.15āļŋ36.81
65.22%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.37âŽ2.02
$0.71āļŋ22.83
233.80%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.37âŽ0.31
$0.55āļŋ17.65
-32.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.17âŽ5.25
$4.57āļŋ146
35.01%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.49âŽ3.82
$18.87āļŋ605
-76.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84âŽ1.57
$1.82āļŋ58.4
1.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63âŽ2.24
$3.21āļŋ103
-18.07%
ð Getting Around
Lodi
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.45âŽ2.09
$0.88āļŋ28.24
178.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$42.25âŽ35.96
$18.89āļŋ606
123.66%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.52âŽ2.99
$1.41āļŋ45.30
149.65%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.07âŽ0.91
$1.30āļŋ41.71
-17.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$23.06âŽ19.63
$8.20āļŋ263
181.22%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.03âŽ1.73
$1.23āļŋ39.29
65.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.9KâŽ25.4K
$21.2Kāļŋ678.9K
40.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.2KâŽ24.9K
$22.3Kāļŋ715.3K
31.00%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lodi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$245âŽ208
$69.9āļŋ2,240
250.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.04âŽ10.25
$14.07āļŋ451
-14.43%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.98âŽ27.22
$17.70āļŋ567
80.68%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Lodi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$65.6âŽ55.8
$41.41āļŋ1,328
58.30%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.81âŽ21.97
$6.69āļŋ215
285.80%
Cinema Ticket
$11.74âŽ9.99
$5.74āļŋ184
104.53%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Lodi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$511âŽ435
$299āļŋ9,593
70.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,617âŽ6,482
$15.0Kāļŋ481.2K
-49.25%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Lodi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$81.4âŽ69.3
$54.8āļŋ1,758
48.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.83âŽ34.75
$26.35āļŋ845
54.95%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.2âŽ72.5
$84.7āļŋ2,714
0.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102âŽ86.7
$69.7āļŋ2,236
46.11%
ð Accommodation & Living
Lodi
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$574âŽ488
$427āļŋ13.7K
34.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$479âŽ408
$241āļŋ7,718
98.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,277âŽ1,087
$811āļŋ26.0K
57.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,098âŽ934
$498āļŋ16.0K
120.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,463âŽ2,947
$2,022āļŋ64.8K
71.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,559âŽ2,178
$1,524āļŋ48.9K
67.92%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Lodi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,389âŽ2,033
$639āļŋ20.5K
273.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.27
5
-14.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lodi: April 14, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A central one-bedroom costs $574 in Lodi versus $427 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.
ð°Salaries run about 274% higher in Lodi, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
ðA mid-range dinner for two costs $68 in Lodi versus $18 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $323 vs $246 â 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
Lodi vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lodi or Chiang Mai?
Lodi costs about 90% 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 Lodi vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,487 per month in Lodi and $1,308 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled â not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Lodi 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 Lodi and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $511 per month in Lodi and $299 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 Lodi or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 31% more in Lodi, 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 Lodi or Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $872, than in Lodi at $1,658. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lodi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lodi or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $872 versus $1,658 in Lodi. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Lodi 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 â central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Lodi or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lodi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.