🙂A single person spends $421 per month in Misrata vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $683 per month in Misrata vs $1,360 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $946 per month in Misrata vs $1,867 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Misrata is about 51% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Misrata and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Misrata68% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Misrata
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.67LYD 17.04
$2.04฿68.2
30.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.10LYD 70.8
$18.71฿624
-40.67%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.61LYD 23.04
$7.86฿262
-54.07%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.56LYD 3.59
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45LYD 2.87
-
-
Cappuccino
$0.48LYD 3.05
$2.03฿67.7
-76.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49LYD 3.12
$0.80฿26.64
-38.75%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.11LYD 0.71
$0.35฿11.68
-68.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.14฿71.5
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.67฿122
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Misrata
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.89LYD 5.67
$1.73฿57.6
-48.55%
White Bread(500g)
$0.21LYD 1.34
$1.57฿52.4
-86.62%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.96LYD 6.15
$1.20฿39.99
-20.00%
Eggs
$1.08LYD 6.91
$1.97฿65.8
-45.18%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.59LYD 29.27
$16.23฿541
-71.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.16LYD 13.76
$3.06฿102
-29.41%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.25LYD 59.0
$10.80฿360
-14.35%
Apples(1kg)
$1.57LYD 10.02
$2.77฿92.3
-43.32%
Banana(1kg)
$1.25LYD 8.00
$1.17฿38.94
6.84%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.76LYD 4.87
$1.71฿57.0
-55.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.53LYD 3.36
$1.59฿53.2
-66.67%
Potato(1kg)
$0.70LYD 4.43
$1.39฿46.51
-49.64%
Onion(1kg)
$0.57LYD 3.61
$1.16฿38.56
-50.86%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.41LYD 2.63
$0.66฿22.05
-37.88%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.22LYD 1.40
$0.52฿17.31
-57.69%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$1.26LYD 8.06
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.71LYD 4.51
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64LYD 4.08
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.87LYD 11.89
$4.65฿155
-59.78%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$17.78฿593
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.79฿59.6
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.34฿111
-
🚌 Getting Around
Misrata
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54LYD 3.42
$0.91฿30.27
-40.66%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$63.6LYD 406
$18.64฿622
241.36%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.96LYD 6.14
$1.41฿47.04
-31.91%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.58LYD 3.69
$1.34฿44.70
-56.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.46LYD 28.44
$8.11฿270
-45.01%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.03LYD 0.22
$1.23฿41.16
-97.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$13.9KLYD 88.4K
$21.4K฿715.1K
-35.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.1KLYD 102.8K
$21.8K฿728.0K
-26.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Misrata
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$32.32LYD 206
$71.3฿2,379
-54.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.16LYD 26.49
$14.01฿467
-70.31%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.48LYD 86.0
$17.93฿598
-24.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Misrata
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$18.92LYD 121
$40.82฿1,362
-53.65%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.02LYD 57.5
$6.88฿230
31.10%
Cinema Ticket
$2.76LYD 17.59
$5.72฿191
-51.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Misrata
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$52.4LYD 334
$308฿10.3K
-83.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$832LYD 5,303
$14.7K฿489.7K
-94.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Misrata
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$21.63LYD 138
$55.8฿1,860
-61.22%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$10.54LYD 67.2
$26.04฿869
-59.52%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$34.17LYD 218
$84.8฿2,829
-59.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$41.57LYD 265
$71.0฿2,368
-41.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Misrata
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$201LYD 1,282
$423฿14.1K
-52.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$91.2LYD 581
$242฿8,088
-62.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$372LYD 2,374
$797฿26.6K
-53.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$183LYD 1,169
$507฿16.9K
-63.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$498LYD 3,174
$1,918฿64.0K
-74.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$103LYD 658
$1,464฿48.8K
-92.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Misrata
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$396LYD 2,525
$595฿19.9K
-33.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.6
5
172.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Misrata: July 27, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $201 in Misrata versus $423 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 50% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $11.00 in Misrata versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $100 vs $244 – making Misrata 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
Misrata vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Misrata or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 102% more than Misrata, 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 Misrata and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $632 per month in Misrata and $1,279 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Misrata or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Misrata, 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 Misrata and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $52.4 per month in Misrata and $308 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 Misrata or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 144% 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 Misrata or in Chiang Mai?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $421 in Misrata and $852 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Misrata or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Misrata costs $421 versus $852 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Misrata 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 Misrata or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Misrata. 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.