😐A single person spends $1,225 per month in Lushnje vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,888 per month in Lushnje vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,551 per month in Lushnje vs $1,855 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Lushnje costs about 41% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Lushnje and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Lushnje9% lower, Chiang Mai35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lushnje
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.80ALL 964
$1.98฿64.3
495.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59.2ALL 4,834
$18.80฿612
214.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.51ALL 777
$7.75฿252
22.71%
Cappuccino
$2.07ALL 169
$1.92฿62.5
7.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90ALL 155
$0.79฿25.79
140.51%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.96ALL 78.8
$0.36฿11.62
166.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.99ALL 244
$2.21฿72.1
35.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.16ALL 340
$3.66฿119
13.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lushnje
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.04ALL 167
$1.65฿53.8
23.64%
White Bread(500g)
$1.14ALL 93.0
$1.63฿53.2
-30.06%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.15ALL 176
$1.19฿38.86
80.67%
Eggs
$3.82ALL 312
$2.00฿65.1
91.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.21ALL 1,080
$15.98฿520
-17.33%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.70ALL 629
$3.03฿98.5
154.13%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.94ALL 1,302
$10.86฿354
46.78%
Apples(1kg)
$1.71ALL 140
$2.76฿90.0
-38.04%
Banana(1kg)
$2.80ALL 229
$1.18฿38.42
137.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.02ALL 165
$1.64฿53.5
23.17%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.91ALL 156
$1.52฿49.51
25.66%
Potato(1kg)
$1.30ALL 107
$1.38฿45.10
-5.80%
Onion(1kg)
$1.33ALL 109
$1.19฿38.84
11.76%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.52ALL 124
$0.70฿22.86
117.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74ALL 60.5
$0.56฿18.13
32.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.30ALL 351
$4.58฿149
-6.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.72ALL 876
$16.56฿539
-35.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63ALL 134
$1.83฿59.5
-10.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14ALL 175
$3.20฿104
-33.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Lushnje
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.45ALL 36.52
$0.88฿28.56
-48.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.50ALL 1,511
$18.72฿610
-1.18%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.54ALL 289
$1.36฿44.16
160.29%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.17ALL 259
$1.34฿43.65
136.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.53ALL 1,433
$7.84฿256
123.60%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.07ALL 169
$1.23฿39.92
68.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.7KALL 3.3M
$21.6K฿704.3K
88.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.2KALL 3.0M
$22.5K฿734.3K
60.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lushnje
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$108ALL 8,843
$70.5฿2,298
53.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.18ALL 1,485
$13.68฿445
32.89%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.19ALL 1,486
$17.45฿568
4.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lushnje
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.7ALL 4,549
$41.33฿1,346
34.72%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.60ALL 2,091
$6.96฿227
267.82%
Cinema Ticket
$9.32ALL 762
$5.77฿188
61.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lushnje
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$159ALL 13.0K
$307฿10.0K
-48.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,612ALL 458.5K
$14.6K฿475.9K
-61.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lushnje
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.8ALL 5,543
$55.8฿1,817
21.60%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.6ALL 4,136
$26.21฿854
93.13%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$106ALL 8,666
$85.8฿2,793
23.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$131ALL 10.7K
$72.2฿2,353
81.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lushnje
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$452ALL 36.9K
$430฿14.0K
5.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$343ALL 28.0K
$239฿7,774
43.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$612ALL 50.0K
$817฿26.6K
-25.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$432ALL 35.3K
$511฿16.6K
-15.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,110ALL 172.4K
$1,983฿64.6K
6.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,459ALL 119.2K
$1,484฿48.3K
-1.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lushnje
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$595ALL 48.6K
$619฿20.2K
-3.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.52
5
10.40%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lushnje: June 9, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $452 in Lushnje versus $430 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 4% 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 $59.0 in Lushnje versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $280 vs $241 – 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
Lushnje vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lushnje or Chiang Mai?
Lushnje costs about 41% 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 Lushnje vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,838 per month in Lushnje and $1,303 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Lushnje 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 Lushnje and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $159 per month in Lushnje and $307 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 Lushnje or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 16% more in Lushnje, 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 Lushnje or Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $869, than in Lushnje at $1,225. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lushnje it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lushnje or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $869 versus $1,225 in Lushnje. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Lushnje 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 Lushnje or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lushnje makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.