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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $326 per month in Masallatah vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $549 per month in Masallatah vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $771 per month in Masallatah vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Masallatah is about 62% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Masallatah and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Masallatah 76% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Masallatah
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.67 LYD 29.78
$1.96 ฿65.8
138.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.63 LYD 119
$18.35 ฿617
1.53%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.65 LYD 23.23
$7.48 ฿252
-51.20%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.58 LYD 3.67
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71 LYD 4.55
-
-
Cappuccino
$0.49 LYD 3.10
$2.02 ฿67.8
-75.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45 LYD 2.87
$0.85 ฿28.50
-47.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.11 LYD 0.67
$0.36 ฿11.96
-69.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.14 ฿71.8
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.59 ฿121
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Masallatah
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.03 LYD 6.59
$1.65 ฿55.5
-37.58%
White Bread (500g)
$0.23 LYD 1.47
$1.57 ฿52.7
-85.35%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.22 LYD 7.79
$1.19 ฿40.02
2.52%
Eggs
$1.43 LYD 9.09
$1.94 ฿65.1
-26.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.91 LYD 31.27
$16.19 ฿544
-69.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.36 LYD 21.39
$2.99 ฿101
12.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.41 LYD 66.3
$10.94 ฿368
-4.84%
Apples (1kg)
$2.21 LYD 14.05
$2.71 ฿91.2
-18.45%
Banana (1kg)
$1.33 LYD 8.49
$1.17 ฿39.25
13.68%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.82 LYD 5.25
$1.69 ฿56.7
-51.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.56 LYD 3.59
$1.60 ฿54.0
-65.00%
Potato (1kg)
$0.70 LYD 4.45
$1.38 ฿46.54
-49.28%
Onion (1kg)
$0.58 LYD 3.67
$1.20 ฿40.45
-51.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.39 LYD 2.48
$0.67 ฿22.50
-41.79%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.22 LYD 1.40
$0.56 ฿18.73
-60.71%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$1.24 LYD 7.89
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 LYD 4.60
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 LYD 4.38
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.85 LYD 11.78
$4.64 ฿156
-60.13%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$17.62 ฿593
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.86 ฿62.5
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.30 ฿111
-
🚌 Getting Around
Masallatah
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.88 ฿29.68
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$19.34 ฿650
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.90 LYD 5.74
$1.36 ฿45.90
-33.82%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.90 LYD 5.73
$1.34 ฿44.98
-32.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.63 LYD 29.52
$8.21 ฿276
-43.61%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.03 LYD 0.17
$1.22 ฿41.18
-97.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$13.9K LYD 88.8K
$21.4K ฿718.1K
-34.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.6K LYD 105.4K
$22.5K ฿757.7K
-26.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Masallatah
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$32.25 LYD 205
$70.7 ฿2,376
-54.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.26 LYD 52.6
$14.04 ฿472
-41.17%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.90 LYD 146
$17.49 ฿588
30.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Masallatah
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$42.15 ฿1,417
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.88 ฿231
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.51 LYD 28.76
$5.92 ฿199
-23.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Masallatah
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$53.3 LYD 339
$309 ฿10.4K
-82.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$932 LYD 5,939
$14.9K ฿500.4K
-93.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Masallatah
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$21.78 LYD 139
$55.8 ฿1,875
-60.94%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.00 LYD 229
$26.11 ฿878
37.88%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$49.68 LYD 316
$83.0 ฿2,792
-40.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$56.4 LYD 359
$70.5 ฿2,369
-19.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Masallatah
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$432 ฿14.5K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$239 ฿8,035
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$822 ฿27.7K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$512 ฿17.2K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,915 ฿64.4K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,467 ฿49.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Masallatah
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$579 ฿19.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
17.5
5
250.00%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Masallatah: July 12, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Masallatah versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $119 in Masallatah vs $243 in Chiang Mai – so Masallatah 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
Masallatah vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Masallatah or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 164% more than Masallatah, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 Masallatah and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $490 per month in Masallatah and $1,292 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do dining costs compare in Masallatah and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Masallatah and $18.00 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 Masallatah or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 105% 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 $1,000/month in Masallatah or in Chiang Mai?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $326 in Masallatah and $861 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Masallatah or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Masallatah costs $326 versus $861 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Masallatah 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 Masallatah or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Masallatah. 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.

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