Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Tepelene and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $936 a month against $1,184 in Tepelene, rent and utilities included – about $3,000 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Tepelene, Albania
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Tepelene
🇦🇱 Albania
$1,184
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$936
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Tepelene and in Chiang Mai

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Tepelene and in Chiang Mai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,184 per month in Tepelene vs $936 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Tepelene $1,184
  • Chiang Mai $936

A couple spends around $1,838 per month in Tepelene vs $1,457 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Tepelene $1,838
  • Chiang Mai $1,457

A family of three spends $2,493 per month in Tepelene vs $1,979 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Tepelene $2,493
  • Chiang Mai $1,979

Tepelene costs about 27% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Tepelene and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Tepelene 13% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tepelene
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.12 ALL 820
$2.24 ฿75.5
351.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$56.3 ALL 4,560
$19.00 ฿640
196.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.34 ALL 919
$5.55 ฿187
104.32%
Cappuccino
$2.24 ALL 181
$1.67 ฿56.4
34.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35 ALL 190
$0.64 ฿21.51
267.19%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.25 ALL 101
$0.31 ฿10.29
303.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.65 ALL 296
$2.36 ฿79.5
54.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.01 ALL 324
$3.66 ฿123
9.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tepelene
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.26 ALL 183
$1.95 ฿65.7
15.90%
White Bread (500g)
$1.17 ALL 94.6
$1.44 ฿48.41
-18.75%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.34 ALL 190
$1.33 ฿44.97
75.94%
Eggs
$3.67 ALL 298
$2.28 ฿77.0
60.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.73 ALL 1,031
$16.45 ฿554
-22.61%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.03 ALL 732
$2.78 ฿93.8
224.82%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.34 ALL 1,404
$9.31 ฿314
86.25%
Apples (1kg)
$1.98 ALL 160
$2.35 ฿79.3
-15.74%
Banana (1kg)
$2.42 ALL 196
$0.97 ฿32.75
149.48%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.17 ALL 176
$1.60 ฿53.8
35.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.85 ALL 150
$1.50 ฿50.6
23.33%
Potato (1kg)
$1.03 ALL 83.3
$1.28 ฿43.06
-19.53%
Onion (1kg)
$1.26 ALL 102
$1.10 ฿37.14
14.55%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.46 ALL 118
$0.71 ฿23.79
105.63%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80 ALL 64.7
$0.49 ฿16.34
63.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.79 ALL 388
$4.14 ฿140
15.70%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.66 ALL 864
$17.52 ฿590
-39.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 ALL 131
$1.61 ฿54.4
0.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11 ALL 171
$2.78 ฿93.8
-24.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Tepelene
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.42 ALL 34.05
$0.87 ฿29.27
-51.72%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$16.82 ALL 1,362
$54.1 ฿1,823
-68.90%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.78 ALL 306
$1.16 ฿39.00
225.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.80 ALL 308
$0.53 ฿17.78
616.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.45 ALL 1,495
$2.42 ฿81.6
662.40%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.43 ALL 197
$1.45 ฿48.82
67.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K ALL 2.8M
$21.1K ฿709.7K
61.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.9K ALL 2.4M
$26.9K ฿907.9K
10.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tepelene
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$101 ALL 8,150
$62.2 ฿2,095
61.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.39 ALL 1,489
$12.17 ฿410
51.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.14 ALL 1,632
$20.12 ฿678
0.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tepelene
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$50.3 ALL 4,077
$37.31 ฿1,257
34.90%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.77 ฿127
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.62 ALL 779
$6.49 ฿219
48.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tepelene
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$351 ALL 28.4K
$736 ฿24.8K
-52.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,174 ALL 662.2K
$14.8K ฿497.6K
-44.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tepelene
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.3 ALL 4,075
$53.4 ฿1,799
-5.73%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.59 ALL 3,937
$24.64 ฿830
97.20%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ALL 9,573
$91.5 ฿3,083
29.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 ALL 9,199
$71.9 ฿2,424
57.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tepelene
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$480 ALL 38.9K
$482 ฿16.3K
-0.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$312 ALL 25.3K
$309 ฿10.4K
1.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$713 ALL 57.8K
$1,006 ฿33.9K
-29.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$460 ALL 37.3K
$633 ฿21.3K
-27.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,943 ALL 157.4K
$2,363 ฿79.6K
-17.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,289 ALL 104.4K
$1,589 ฿53.6K
-18.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tepelene
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$679 ALL 55.0K
$590 ฿19.9K
15.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.16
5.57
-7.36%

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

Last update for Tepelene: October 27, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Tepelene
$312
Chiang Mai
$309 1.1% $3.3
Groceries & Markets
Tepelene
$291
Chiang Mai
$234 19.4% $56
Eating Out
Tepelene
$182
Chiang Mai
$78 57.5% $105
Clothing & Footwear
Tepelene
$149
Chiang Mai
$109 27% $40
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tepelene
$139
Chiang Mai
$94 32.1% $45
Sport & Entertainment
Tepelene
$70
Chiang Mai
$50 27.7% $19
Getting Around
Tepelene
$41
Chiang Mai
$61 48.7% $20

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $480 in Tepelene versus $482 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 15% higher in Tepelene, 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 $56 in Tepelene versus $19 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $291 vs $234 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇦🇱 Tepelene
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
06:41 6:41 AM
12:41 12:41 PM
6 h ahead of Tepelene
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
8,000
127,240
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to ALL – Albanian Lek Converter

Albanian Lek exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 81.01 ALL (100 ALL = 1.23 USD). 1 EUR = 90.8 ALL (100 ALL = 1.1 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 33.7 THB (100 THB = 2.97 USD). 1 EUR = 37.77 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Tepelene Chiang Mai 7,750 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Tepelene
  • Chiang Mai

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Tepelene vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tepelene or Chiang Mai?
Tepelene costs about 27% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from 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 Tepelene and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,776 per month in Tepelene and $1,403 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Tepelene compared to Chiang Mai?
A central 1-bedroom goes for about $480 in Tepelene and $482 in Chiang Mai. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.
How do childcare costs compare in Tepelene and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $351 per month in Tepelene and $736 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 Tepelene or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 24% more in Tepelene, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $800/month in Tepelene or in Chiang Mai?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $1,184 in Tepelene and $936 in Chiang Mai. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Tepelene or Chiang Mai?
It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $936 in Chiang Mai to $1,184 in Tepelene. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How safe is Tepelene compared to Chiang Mai?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
Should I move to Tepelene or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tepelene makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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