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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,047 per month in Lome vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,533 per month in Lome vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,020 per month in Lome vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Lome costs about 21% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Lome and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Lome 22% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.15 F CFA 1,216

$1.94 ฿63.5

10.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.22 F CFA 17.6K

$18.64 ฿609

67.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.38 F CFA 3,036

$7.82 ฿255

-31.20%

Cappuccino

$5.61 F CFA 3,168

$1.95 ฿63.8

187.69%

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

$3.46 F CFA 1,953

$0.85 ฿27.77

307.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.11 F CFA 627

$0.35 ฿11.58

217.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.84 F CFA 477

$2.13 ฿69.6

-60.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.71 F CFA 964

$3.73 ฿122

-54.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.48 F CFA 1,397

$1.71 ฿56.0

45.03%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 F CFA 748

$1.63 ฿53.2

-18.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.83 F CFA 1,035

$1.14 ฿37.15

60.53%

Eggs

$2.10 F CFA 1,184

$1.93 ฿63.1

8.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.13 F CFA 7,975

$16.21 ฿530

-12.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.41 F CFA 4,748

$3.12 ฿102

169.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.44 F CFA 5,326

$10.90 ฿356

-13.39%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 F CFA 1,530

$2.75 ฿90.0

-1.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 F CFA 845

$1.21 ฿39.52

23.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.62 F CFA 1,481

$1.62 ฿53.0

61.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.48 F CFA 1,402

$1.59 ฿51.8

55.97%

Potato (1kg)

$1.79 F CFA 1,012

$1.40 ฿45.70

27.86%

Onion (1kg)

$1.74 F CFA 981

$1.17 ฿38.17

48.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.50 F CFA 284

$0.66 ฿21.60

-24.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 F CFA 482

$0.53 ฿17.22

60.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.44 F CFA 815

$4.69 ฿153

-69.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.87 F CFA 2,748

$18.66 ฿609

-73.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 F CFA 749

$1.80 ฿58.8

-26.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 F CFA 855

$3.23 ฿106

-53.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 F CFA 204

$0.90 ฿29.26

-60.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.3 F CFA 30.1K

$19.21 ฿628

177.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.13 F CFA 1,203

$1.41 ฿45.91

51.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 F CFA 389

$1.29 ฿42.12

-46.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.21 F CFA 2,938

$7.84 ฿256

-33.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 F CFA 704

$1.27 ฿41.58

-1.57%

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

$14.1K F CFA 7.9M

$21.3K ฿694.9K

-33.93%

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

$26.0K F CFA 14.7M

$22.2K ฿725.4K

16.91%

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

$173 F CFA 97.5K

$69.1 ฿2,256

150.24%

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

$21.89 F CFA 12.4K

$14.08 ฿460

55.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.32 F CFA 25.0K

$18.00 ฿588

146.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.54 F CFA 28.0K

$41.06 ฿1,341

20.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.63 F CFA 4,871

$6.96 ฿227

23.99%

Cinema Ticket

$4.33 F CFA 2,444

$5.92 ฿193

-26.86%

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

$177 F CFA 99.9K

$299 ฿9,766

-40.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,103 F CFA 2.9M

$15.0K ฿488.3K

-65.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.39 F CFA 13.8K

$54.7 ฿1,787

-55.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.26 F CFA 15.4K

$26.77 ฿874

1.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$42.14 F CFA 23.8K

$85.0 ฿2,776

-50.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$94.0 F CFA 53.0K

$70.6 ฿2,306

33.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$360 F CFA 202.9K

$428 ฿14.0K

-16.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$224 F CFA 126.2K

$237 ฿7,752

-5.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$765 F CFA 431.8K

$801 ฿26.2K

-4.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$299 F CFA 169.0K

$515 ฿16.8K

-41.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$267 F CFA 150.6K

$617 ฿20.2K

-56.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

60.00%

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

Last update for Lome: May 31, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $360 in Lome versus $428 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 131% higher in Chiang Mai, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $31.00 in Lome versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $246 – 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

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

Lome costs about 21% 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,570 per month in Lome and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Kindergarten costs $177 per month in Lome and $299 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 2% more in Lome, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Lome at $1,047. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lome it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $1,047 in Lome. 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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lome makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.