😐A single person spends $1,244 per month in Lushnje vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,889 per month in Lushnje vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,534 per month in Lushnje vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Lushnje costs about 46% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Lushnje and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Lushnje7% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lushnje
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.90ALL 972
$1.96฿64.0
507.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.0ALL 4,734
$18.81฿615
208.24%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.57ALL 781
$7.92฿259
20.83%
Cappuccino
$1.99ALL 163
$1.91฿62.6
4.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87ALL 153
$0.84฿27.41
122.62%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91ALL 74.1
$0.35฿11.51
160.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03ALL 247
$2.21฿72.1
37.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.24ALL 346
$3.80฿124
11.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lushnje
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.07ALL 169
$1.64฿53.5
26.22%
White Bread(500g)
$1.13ALL 92.7
$1.62฿53.1
-30.25%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.16ALL 176
$1.18฿38.62
83.05%
Eggs
$3.95ALL 323
$2.01฿65.8
96.52%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.04ALL 1,065
$15.89฿520
-17.94%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.54ALL 615
$3.01฿98.5
150.50%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.46ALL 1,262
$10.77฿352
43.55%
Apples(1kg)
$1.78ALL 145
$2.61฿85.5
-31.80%
Banana(1kg)
$2.78ALL 227
$1.22฿39.88
127.87%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.98ALL 162
$1.70฿55.7
16.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.99ALL 162
$1.58฿51.5
25.95%
Potato(1kg)
$1.36ALL 111
$1.32฿43.14
3.03%
Onion(1kg)
$1.33ALL 109
$1.17฿38.23
13.68%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51ALL 123
$0.67฿21.98
125.37%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.75ALL 61.5
$0.56฿18.32
33.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.22ALL 345
$4.53฿148
-6.84%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.40ALL 849
$18.20฿595
-42.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58ALL 129
$1.83฿60.0
-13.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09ALL 171
$3.23฿106
-35.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Lushnje
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.46ALL 37.54
$0.89฿29.00
-48.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.57ALL 1,516
$19.38฿634
-4.18%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.56ALL 291
$1.35฿44.20
163.70%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.19ALL 260
$1.35฿44.05
136.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.81ALL 1,454
$8.25฿270
115.88%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.05ALL 167
$1.27฿41.64
61.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.3KALL 3.3M
$21.2K฿691.8K
90.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.0KALL 2.9M
$22.5K฿735.3K
55.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lushnje
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$107ALL 8,719
$70.2฿2,294
52.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.98ALL 1,468
$13.77฿450
30.57%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.75ALL 1,531
$17.60฿575
6.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lushnje
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.1ALL 4,498
$41.57฿1,360
32.50%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.56ALL 2,087
$6.60฿216
287.27%
Cinema Ticket
$9.46ALL 773
$5.78฿189
63.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lushnje
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$161ALL 13.1K
$306฿10.0K
-47.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,615ALL 458.4K
$14.8K฿484.8K
-62.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lushnje
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.6ALL 5,518
$54.4฿1,778
24.30%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.4ALL 4,112
$26.14฿855
92.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$108ALL 8,828
$84.5฿2,764
27.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$129ALL 10.5K
$69.4฿2,270
86.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lushnje
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$445ALL 36.4K
$424฿13.9K
5.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$346ALL 28.3K
$238฿7,788
45.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$620ALL 50.6K
$825฿27.0K
-24.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$430ALL 35.1K
$515฿16.8K
-16.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,037ALL 166.3K
$2,049฿67.0K
-0.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,224ALL 99.9K
$1,523฿49.8K
-19.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lushnje
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$604ALL 49.3K
$635฿20.8K
-4.92%
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: April 27, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $445 in Lushnje versus $424 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 5% 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 $58.0 in Lushnje versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $278 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
Lushnje vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lushnje or Chiang Mai?
Lushnje costs about 46% 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 $1,865 per month in Lushnje and $1,278 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 $161 per month in Lushnje and $306 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 14% 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 $852, than in Lushnje at $1,244. 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 $852 versus $1,244 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.