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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,007 per month in Pogradec vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,499 per month in Pogradec vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,991 per month in Pogradec vs $1,855 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Pogradec costs about 16% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Pogradec and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Pogradec 25% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.02 ALL 655

$1.98 ฿64.3

305.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.69 ALL 3,079

$18.80 ฿612

100.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.28 ALL 595

$7.75 ฿252

-6.06%

Cappuccino

$0.93 ALL 75.7

$1.92 ฿62.5

-51.56%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.60 ALL 131

$0.79 ฿25.79

102.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 ALL 56.8

$0.36 ฿11.62

94.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.37 ALL 112

$2.21 ฿72.1

-38.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 ALL 206

$3.66 ฿119

-31.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.02 ALL 165

$1.65 ฿53.8

22.42%

White Bread (500g)

$0.85 ALL 69.5

$1.63 ฿53.2

-47.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.02 ALL 165

$1.19 ฿38.86

69.75%

Eggs

$2.06 ALL 168

$2.00 ฿65.1

3.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.43 ALL 607

$15.98 ฿520

-53.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.14 ALL 338

$3.03 ฿98.5

36.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.17 ALL 1,076

$10.86 ฿354

21.27%

Apples (1kg)

$1.16 ALL 94.9

$2.76 ฿90.0

-57.97%

Banana (1kg)

$2.37 ALL 193

$1.18 ฿38.42

100.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.39 ALL 113

$1.64 ฿53.5

-15.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 ALL 98.2

$1.52 ฿49.51

-21.05%

Potato (1kg)

$0.93 ALL 75.8

$1.38 ฿45.10

-32.61%

Onion (1kg)

$0.97 ALL 79.1

$1.19 ฿38.84

-18.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.97 ALL 79.3

$0.70 ฿22.86

38.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 ALL 58.6

$0.56 ฿18.13

28.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.96 ALL 324

$4.58 ฿149

-13.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.93 ALL 811

$16.56 ฿539

-40.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.17 ALL 95.3

$1.83 ฿59.5

-36.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.76 ALL 144

$3.20 ฿104

-45.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 ALL 39.34

$0.88 ฿28.56

-45.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.06 ALL 1,557

$18.72 ฿610

1.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.47 ALL 283

$1.36 ฿44.16

155.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.60 ALL 130

$1.34 ฿43.65

19.40%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.57 ALL 1,436

$7.84 ฿256

124.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.11 ALL 172

$1.23 ฿39.92

71.54%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$34.0K ALL 2.8M

$21.6K ฿704.3K

57.11%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.0K ALL 2.0M

$22.5K ฿734.3K

10.70%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$67.0 ALL 5,476

$70.5 ฿2,298

-4.98%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$17.67 ALL 1,444

$13.68 ฿445

29.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.99 ALL 1,306

$17.45 ฿568

-8.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.3 ALL 4,520

$41.33 ฿1,346

33.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.27 ALL 2,064

$6.96 ฿227

263.07%

Cinema Ticket

$8.05 ALL 658

$5.77 ฿188

39.51%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$94.0 ALL 7,680

$307 ฿10.0K

-69.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.63 ALL 3,810

$55.8 ฿1,817

-16.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.6 ALL 4,378

$26.21 ฿854

104.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.8 ALL 7,830

$85.8 ฿2,793

11.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$142 ALL 11.6K

$72.2 ฿2,353

96.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$443 ALL 36.2K

$430 ฿14.0K

3.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$338 ALL 27.6K

$239 ฿7,774

41.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$611 ALL 49.9K

$817 ฿26.6K

-25.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$437 ALL 35.7K

$511 ฿16.6K

-14.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,552 ALL 126.8K

$1,983 ฿64.6K

-21.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ALL 118.6K

$1,484 ฿48.3K

-2.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$462 ALL 37.7K

$619 ฿20.2K

-25.38%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-20.00%

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

Last update for Pogradec: June 8, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $443 in Pogradec 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 34% 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 $38.00 in Pogradec versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $206 in Pogradec vs $241 in Chiang Mai – so Pogradec 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

Pogradec vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Pogradec costs about 16% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,510 per month in Pogradec and $1,303 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Kindergarten costs $94.0 per month in Pogradec and $307 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 17% cheaper in Pogradec – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $869, than in Pogradec at $1,007. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Pogradec it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $869 versus $1,007 in Pogradec. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Pogradec makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.