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

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $590 per month in Lome vs $950 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,024 per month in Lome vs $1,430 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,458 per month in Lome vs $1,909 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Lome is about 38% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Lome and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Lome 57% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.09 F CFA 1,743

$2.10 ฿69.3

47.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.15 F CFA 18.2K

$19.84 ฿656

62.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.64 F CFA 3,186

$5.79 ฿191

-2.59%

Cappuccino

$6.16 F CFA 3,481

$1.83 ฿60.4

236.61%

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

$4.27 F CFA 2,413

$0.78 ฿25.61

447.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 F CFA 415

$0.31 ฿10.37

138.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.93 F CFA 527

$2.34 ฿77.2

-60.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.79 F CFA 1,010

$3.70 ฿122

-51.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.28 F CFA 1,291

$2.03 ฿67.1

12.32%

White Bread (500g)

$1.35 F CFA 762

$1.60 ฿52.7

-15.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.52 F CFA 859

$1.42 ฿46.75

7.04%

Eggs

$2.02 F CFA 1,139

$2.18 ฿71.9

-7.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.82 F CFA 3,288

$9.87 ฿326

-41.03%

Apples (1kg)

$3.14 F CFA 1,774

$2.63 ฿86.8

19.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.75 F CFA 991

$1.10 ฿36.19

59.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

Tomato (1kg)

$2.62 F CFA 1,481

$1.53 ฿50.6

71.24%

Potato (1kg)

$1.73 F CFA 977

$1.24 ฿41.13

39.52%

Onion (1kg)

$1.22 F CFA 692

$1.13 ฿37.37

7.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 F CFA 520

$0.50 ฿16.48

84.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

Wine (Bottle)

$4.93 F CFA 2,783

$17.97 ฿594

-72.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 F CFA 658

$1.70 ฿56.1

-31.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 F CFA 827

$2.90 ฿95.7

-49.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.20 F CFA 681

$0.53 ฿17.66

126.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.42 F CFA 2,497

$2.40 ฿79.3

84.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 F CFA 671

$1.44 ฿47.55

-17.36%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

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

$148 F CFA 83.8K

$64.9 ฿2,145

128.43%

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

$22.34 F CFA 12.6K

$13.35 ฿441

67.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.11 F CFA 24.9K

$20.83 ฿688

111.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.7 F CFA 34.8K

$40.42 ฿1,336

52.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.01 F CFA 5,090

$3.95 ฿131

128.10%

Cinema Ticket

$4.51 F CFA 2,547

$6.71 ฿222

-32.79%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,224 F CFA 691.5K

$910 ฿30.1K

34.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$301 F CFA 170.3K

$531 ฿17.5K

-43.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$309 F CFA 174.6K

$605 ฿20.0K

-48.94%

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 Lome: September 5, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 96% higher in Chiang Mai, 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 $32.00 in Lome versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $145 in Lome vs $242 in Chiang Mai – so Lome 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

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

Chiang Mai costs about 61% more than Lome, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $885 per month in Lome 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 $590 in Lome and $950 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 68% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Lome, where all-in costs run around $590, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Lome 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. Lome costs $590 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 Lome. 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.