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 $1,049 per month in Lome vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,501 per month in Lome vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,954 per month in Lome vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Lome costs about 22% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Lome and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Lome 21% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.17 F CFA 1,248

$1.96 ฿65.8

10.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.09 F CFA 18.4K

$18.35 ฿617

74.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.16 F CFA 2,964

$7.48 ฿252

-31.02%

Cappuccino

$5.62 F CFA 3,229

$2.02 ฿67.8

178.22%

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

$3.46 F CFA 1,984

$0.85 ฿28.50

307.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.11 F CFA 636

$0.36 ฿11.96

208.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.86 F CFA 493

$2.14 ฿71.8

-59.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.80 F CFA 1,034

$3.59 ฿121

-49.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.42 F CFA 1,390

$1.65 ฿55.5

46.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.31 F CFA 751

$1.57 ฿52.7

-16.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.81 F CFA 1,037

$1.19 ฿40.02

52.10%

Eggs

$2.06 F CFA 1,186

$1.94 ฿65.1

6.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.16 F CFA 8,128

$16.19 ฿544

-12.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.21 F CFA 4,711

$2.99 ฿101

174.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.37 F CFA 5,381

$10.94 ฿368

-14.35%

Apples (1kg)

$2.67 F CFA 1,532

$2.71 ฿91.2

-1.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.43 F CFA 819

$1.17 ฿39.25

22.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.62 F CFA 1,506

$1.69 ฿56.7

55.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.52 F CFA 1,447

$1.60 ฿54.0

57.50%

Potato (1kg)

$1.80 F CFA 1,033

$1.38 ฿46.54

30.43%

Onion (1kg)

$1.75 F CFA 1,004

$1.20 ฿40.45

45.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 F CFA 313

$0.67 ฿22.50

-17.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 F CFA 497

$0.56 ฿18.73

55.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.43 F CFA 821

$4.64 ฿156

-69.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.66 F CFA 2,676

$17.62 ฿593

-73.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 F CFA 794

$1.86 ฿62.5

-25.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 F CFA 901

$3.30 ฿111

-52.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 F CFA 194

$0.88 ฿29.68

-61.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 F CFA 30.9K

$19.34 ฿650

178.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.04 F CFA 1,173

$1.36 ฿45.90

50.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.73 F CFA 421

$1.34 ฿44.98

-45.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.24 F CFA 3,008

$8.21 ฿276

-36.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 F CFA 720

$1.22 ฿41.18

2.46%

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

$14.1K F CFA 8.1M

$21.4K ฿718.1K

-33.93%

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

$25.8K F CFA 14.8M

$22.5K ฿757.7K

14.52%

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

$178 F CFA 102.4K

$70.7 ฿2,376

152.40%

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

$21.67 F CFA 12.4K

$14.04 ฿472

54.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$43.41 F CFA 24.9K

$17.49 ฿588

148.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.00 F CFA 28.1K

$42.15 ฿1,417

16.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.73 F CFA 5,013

$6.88 ฿231

26.89%

Cinema Ticket

$4.29 F CFA 2,465

$5.92 ฿199

-27.53%

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

$173 F CFA 99.3K

$309 ฿10.4K

-43.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,151 F CFA 3.0M

$14.9K ฿500.4K

-65.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.78 F CFA 14.2K

$55.8 ฿1,875

-55.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.41 F CFA 15.7K

$26.11 ฿878

4.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$40.82 F CFA 23.4K

$83.0 ฿2,792

-50.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.1 F CFA 55.2K

$70.5 ฿2,369

36.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$363 F CFA 208.6K

$432 ฿14.5K

-15.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$221 F CFA 126.6K

$239 ฿8,035

-7.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$757 F CFA 434.6K

$822 ฿27.7K

-7.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$302 F CFA 173.4K

$512 ฿17.2K

-41.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$261 F CFA 149.9K

$579 ฿19.5K

-54.95%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $363 in Lome versus $432 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 122% 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 $32.00 in Lome versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $250 vs $243 – 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 22% 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 $1,574 per month in Lome and $1,292 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 $173 per month in Lome and $309 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 3% 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 $861, than in Lome at $1,049. 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 $861 versus $1,049 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.