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

😐 Solo nomad: Vientiane is 0.1% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 64% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Vientiane is 5.4% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 60% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Vientiane
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.37 LAK 50.9K
$1.94 ฿62.8
22.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.09 LAK 409.7K
$18.36 ฿594
3.98%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.48 LAK 96.2K
$7.78 ฿252
-42.42%
Cappuccino
$1.62 LAK 34.8K
$1.96 ฿63.3
-17.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 LAK 12K
$0.83 ฿27.01
-32.53%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 LAK 7,461
$0.35 ฿11.44
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.21 LAK 26K
$2.1 ฿67.9
-42.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77 LAK 38.1K
$3.75 ฿121
-52.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vientiane
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.92 LAK 41.3K
$1.69 ฿54.8
13.61%
White Bread (500g)
$0.97 LAK 20.8K
$1.63 ฿52.6
-40.49%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.97 LAK 20.8K
$1.2 ฿38.83
-19.17%
Eggs
$1.84 LAK 39.4K
$1.99 ฿64.5
-7.54%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$27.48 LAK 589.7K
$15.97 ฿517
72.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.48 LAK 139K
$3.14 ฿102
106.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.23 LAK 133.8K
$10.94 ฿354
-43.05%
Apples (1kg)
$1.95 LAK 41.8K
$2.68 ฿86.6
-27.24%
Banana (1kg)
$1.14 LAK 24.4K
$1.17 ฿37.97
-2.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.09 LAK 44.9K
$1.63 ฿52.6
28.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.34 LAK 28.7K
$1.54 ฿49.78
-12.99%
Potato (1kg)
$1.6 LAK 34.3K
$1.34 ฿43.23
19.40%
Onion (1kg)
$1.06 LAK 22.8K
$1.17 ฿37.78
-9.40%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.61 LAK 13.1K
$0.67 ฿21.52
-8.96%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.38 LAK 8,176
$0.56 ฿18.09
-32.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2 LAK 42.9K
$4.57 ฿148
-56.24%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.68 LAK 229.3K
$18.42 ฿596
-42.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.01 LAK 21.8K
$1.79 ฿57.9
-43.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79 LAK 38.4K
$3.27 ฿106
-45.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Vientiane
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.44 LAK 9,494
$0.96 ฿31.19
-54.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$49.55 LAK 1.1M
$18.98 ฿614
161.06%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.96 LAK 42.1K
$1.35 ฿43.78
45.19%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.19 LAK 25.5K
$1.3 ฿42.14
-8.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.89 LAK 105K
$8.24 ฿267
-40.66%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.37 LAK 29.4K
$1.24 ฿39.97
10.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.1K LAK 624.9M
$21.6K ฿699.5K
34.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.2K LAK 626.9M
$21.8K ฿706.1K
33.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vientiane
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.7 LAK 1.6M
$70.2 ฿2,272
4.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.86 LAK 683.8K
$14.18 ฿459
124.68%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.4 LAK 244.7K
$17.88 ฿579
-36.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vientiane
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$50.8 LAK 1.1M
$42.29 ฿1,369
20.05%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.53 LAK 118.6K
$6.73 ฿218
-17.83%
Cinema Ticket
$2.53 LAK 54.3K
$5.7 ฿185
-55.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vientiane
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$341 LAK 7.3M
$308 ฿9,969
10.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,427 LAK 202.3M
$15.1K ฿487.6K
-37.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vientiane
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.83 LAK 597.3K
$56.3 ฿1,822
-50.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$69.6 LAK 1.5M
$26.3 ฿851
164.56%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$57.5 LAK 1.2M
$84.7 ฿2,742
-32.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$42.26 LAK 906.9K
$72.2 ฿2,336
-41.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vientiane
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$881 LAK 18.9M
$434 ฿14.1K
102.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$780 LAK 16.7M
$243 ฿7,854
221.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$920 LAK 19.7M
$807 ฿26.1K
13.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,649 LAK 35.4M
$499 ฿16.2K
230.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,848 LAK 39.7M
$2,195 ฿71K
-15.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$101 LAK 2.2M
$1,560 ฿50.5K
-93.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vientiane
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$274 LAK 5.9M
$683 ฿22.1K
-59.94%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.12
5
102.40%

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

Last update for Vientiane: November 3, 2025

Last update for Chiang Mai: November 3, 2025

Similar cities

Join the CityCost newsletter – low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.