🙂A single person spends $807 per month in Lopburi vs $947 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,280 per month in Lopburi vs $1,411 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,753 per month in Lopburi vs $1,874 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Lopburi is about 15% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Lopburi and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Lopburi41% lower, Chiang Mai31% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lopburi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.36฿45.05
$2.08฿69.2
-34.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.05฿400
$19.64฿651
-38.65%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.45฿148
$5.65฿188
-21.24%
Cappuccino
$1.20฿39.69
$1.81฿59.9
-33.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71฿23.70
$0.71฿23.66
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30฿9.90
$0.32฿10.48
-6.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.19฿72.6
$2.24฿74.2
-2.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88฿95.7
$3.63฿121
-20.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lopburi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24฿41.27
$1.96฿65.0
-36.73%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30฿43.22
$1.50฿49.83
-13.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.26฿41.92
$1.34฿44.32
-5.97%
Eggs
$1.78฿59.1
$2.26฿75.1
-21.24%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.82฿425
$16.26฿539
-21.16%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.55฿84.5
$2.95฿98.0
-13.56%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.20฿338
$9.94฿330
2.62%
Apples(1kg)
$1.42฿47.03
$2.57฿85.3
-44.75%
Banana(1kg)
$0.95฿31.68
$1.06฿35.04
-10.38%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.18฿39.28
$1.61฿53.5
-26.71%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.69฿56.0
$1.52฿50.4
11.18%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86฿61.5
$1.27฿42.14
46.46%
Onion(1kg)
$0.89฿29.37
$1.07฿35.37
-16.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.84฿28.01
$0.72฿23.89
16.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.42฿13.88
$0.51฿16.87
-17.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.69฿156
$4.19฿139
11.93%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.45฿479
$17.87฿593
-19.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72฿57.0
$1.69฿56.2
1.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54฿84.1
$2.84฿94.1
-10.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Lopburi
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.89฿29.59
$0.93฿30.70
-4.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$53.9฿1,787
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.26฿41.66
$1.23฿40.95
2.44%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.64฿54.5
$0.58฿19.13
182.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.99฿132
$2.42฿80.4
64.88%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.40฿46.44
$1.41฿46.84
-0.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.9K฿560.3K
$21.4K฿711.3K
-21.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.6K฿915.5K
$27.3K฿906.7K
0.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lopburi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.1฿2,756
$63.7฿2,112
30.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.75฿323
$12.85฿426
-24.12%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.33฿309
$20.22฿671
-53.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lopburi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.37฿1,605
$38.74฿1,285
24.86%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.38฿477
$3.97฿132
262.22%
Cinema Ticket
$6.60฿219
$6.74฿223
-2.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lopburi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$749฿24.8K
$778฿25.8K
-3.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,178฿204.9K
$14.6K฿484.6K
-57.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lopburi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$6.04฿200
$54.3฿1,801
-88.87%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.37฿1,007
$25.45฿844
19.33%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$74.5฿2,471
$94.3฿3,129
-21.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$54.9฿1,820
$73.4฿2,436
-25.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lopburi
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$471฿15.6K
$490฿16.2K
-3.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$291฿9,643
$289฿9,596
0.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,230฿40.8K
$894฿29.6K
37.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$710฿23.6K
$517฿17.1K
37.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,989฿66.0K
$1,955฿64.9K
1.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,621฿53.8K
$1,477฿49.0K
9.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lopburi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$602฿20.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.3
5.57
13.11%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lopburi: September 1, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $471 in Lopburi versus $490 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $12.00 in Lopburi versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $204 vs $240 – making Lopburi 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
Lopburi vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lopburi or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 17% more than Lopburi, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. 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 Lopburi and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,210 per month in Lopburi and $1,421 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Lopburi or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Lopburi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Lopburi and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $12.00 in Lopburi and $20.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Lopburi or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 18% 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.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Lopburi or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Lopburi, where all-in costs run around $807, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Lopburi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lopburi or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Lopburi costs $807 versus $947 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Lopburi 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 – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Lopburi or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Lopburi. 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.