🙂A single person spends $327 per month in Masallatah vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $539 per month in Masallatah vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $751 per month in Masallatah vs $1,835 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 – Masallatah76% lower, Chiang Mai35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Masallatah
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.64LYD 29.53
$1.94฿63.6
139.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.71LYD 119
$18.64฿609
0.38%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.56LYD 22.67
$7.82฿256
-54.48%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.53LYD 3.40
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67LYD 4.25
-
-
Cappuccino
$0.51LYD 3.26
$1.95฿63.9
-73.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45LYD 2.89
$0.85฿27.80
-47.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.12LYD 0.78
$0.35฿11.60
-65.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.13฿69.7
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.73฿122
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Masallatah
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.99LYD 6.27
$1.71฿56.0
-42.11%
White Bread(500g)
$0.23LYD 1.47
$1.63฿53.3
-85.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.25LYD 7.92
$1.14฿37.18
9.65%
Eggs
$1.50LYD 9.52
$1.93฿63.2
-22.28%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.92LYD 31.30
$16.21฿530
-69.65%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.28LYD 20.86
$3.12฿102
5.13%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.27LYD 65.3
$10.90฿356
-5.78%
Apples(1kg)
$2.21LYD 14.03
$2.75฿90.1
-19.64%
Banana(1kg)
$1.34LYD 8.55
$1.21฿39.56
10.74%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.76LYD 4.84
$1.62฿53.0
-53.09%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.52LYD 3.30
$1.59฿51.9
-67.30%
Potato(1kg)
$0.65LYD 4.15
$1.40฿45.75
-53.57%
Onion(1kg)
$0.53LYD 3.34
$1.17฿38.20
-54.70%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.39LYD 2.47
$0.66฿21.62
-40.91%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.20LYD 1.27
$0.53฿17.24
-62.26%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$1.24LYD 7.90
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.71LYD 4.54
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69LYD 4.39
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.81LYD 11.50
$4.69฿153
-61.41%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$18.66฿610
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.80฿58.8
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.23฿106
-
🚌 Getting Around
Masallatah
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.90฿29.28
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$19.21฿628
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.96LYD 6.11
$1.41฿45.96
-31.91%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.90LYD 5.70
$1.29฿42.16
-30.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.63LYD 29.42
$7.84฿256
-40.94%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.03LYD 0.20
$1.27฿41.62
-97.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$13.9KLYD 88.3K
$21.3K฿695.5K
-34.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.4KLYD 104.4K
$22.2K฿726.1K
-26.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Masallatah
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$32.39LYD 206
$69.1฿2,258
-53.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.32LYD 52.9
$14.08฿460
-40.91%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.39LYD 149
$18.00฿588
29.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Masallatah
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$41.06฿1,342
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.96฿227
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.62LYD 29.37
$5.92฿193
-21.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Masallatah
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$51.9LYD 330
$299฿9,775
-82.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$916LYD 5,828
$15.0K฿488.8K
-93.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Masallatah
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$21.61LYD 137
$54.7฿1,788
-60.49%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.89LYD 222
$26.77฿875
30.33%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$50.4LYD 320
$85.0฿2,778
-40.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$55.5LYD 353
$70.6฿2,308
-21.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Masallatah
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$428฿14.0K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$237฿7,759
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$801฿26.2K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$515฿16.9K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,975฿64.5K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,475฿48.2K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Masallatah
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$617฿20.2K
-
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: May 31, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Masallatah versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $117 vs $246 – making Masallatah 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
Masallatah vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Masallatah or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 165% 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 vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $490 per month in Masallatah and $1,300 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 vs Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Masallatah and $19.00 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 Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 111% 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 Chiang Mai?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $327 in Masallatah and $866 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 $327 versus $866 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 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.
Masallatah vs other spots: cost of living compared