😐A single person spends $1,687 per month in Vilnius vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,514 per month in Vilnius vs $1,360 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,341 per month in Vilnius vs $1,867 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Vilnius costs about 98% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Vilnius sits 27% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Vilnius
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.86€12.09
$2.04฿68.4
579.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.3€60.4
$18.71฿626
270.34%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.18€8.00
$7.86฿263
16.79%
Cappuccino
$3.62€3.15
$2.03฿67.9
78.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08€1.82
$0.80฿26.71
160.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31€2.02
$0.35฿11.71
560.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.11€4.45
$2.14฿71.7
138.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.12€4.46
$3.67฿123
39.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vilnius
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.54€1.34
$1.73฿57.8
-10.98%
White Bread(500g)
$1.54€1.34
$1.57฿52.5
-1.91%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.61€2.27
$1.20฿40.10
117.50%
Eggs
$2.73€2.38
$1.97฿66.0
38.58%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.37€10.79
$16.23฿543
-23.78%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.92€6.04
$3.06฿102
126.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.31€10.73
$10.80฿361
13.98%
Apples(1kg)
$1.60€1.40
$2.77฿92.6
-42.24%
Banana(1kg)
$1.59€1.38
$1.17฿39.05
35.90%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.11€1.84
$1.71฿57.1
23.39%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.42€2.98
$1.59฿53.3
115.09%
Potato(1kg)
$0.93€0.81
$1.39฿46.63
-33.09%
Onion(1kg)
$1.08€0.94
$1.16฿38.67
-6.90%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.94€1.69
$0.66฿22.11
193.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87€0.76
$0.52฿17.35
67.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.78€5.04
$4.65฿155
24.30%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.60€8.37
$17.78฿595
-46.01%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74€1.52
$1.79฿59.8
-2.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14€1.87
$3.34฿112
-35.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Vilnius
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.03€0.90
$0.91฿30.35
13.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$33.25€28.99
$18.64฿624
78.38%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.19€2.78
$1.41฿47.17
126.24%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.13€0.98
$1.34฿44.82
-15.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$16.56€14.44
$8.11฿271
104.19%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.64€1.43
$1.23฿41.27
33.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.2K€30.7K
$21.4K฿717.0K
64.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0K€28.8K
$21.8K฿730.0K
51.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vilnius
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$236€206
$71.3฿2,386
231.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.01€12.22
$14.01฿469
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.33€15.11
$17.93฿600
-3.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vilnius
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.53€36.21
$40.82฿1,365
1.74%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$36.05€31.43
$6.88฿230
423.98%
Cinema Ticket
$9.21€8.03
$5.72฿191
61.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vilnius
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$636€554
$308฿10.3K
106.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,167€7,992
$14.7K฿491.0K
-37.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vilnius
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.4€77.0
$55.8฿1,865
58.45%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.91€36.54
$26.04฿871
60.94%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111€96.7
$84.8฿2,837
30.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133€116
$71.0฿2,375
87.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vilnius
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$878€765
$423฿14.2K
107.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$638€556
$242฿8,110
163.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,520€1,325
$797฿26.7K
90.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,030€898
$507฿17.0K
103.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,024€5,251
$1,918฿64.2K
214.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,355€2,925
$1,464฿49.0K
129.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vilnius
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,918€1,672
$595฿19.9K
222.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.49
5
-10.20%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Vilnius: July 25, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $878 in Vilnius 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 222% higher in Vilnius, 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 $69.0 in Vilnius versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $259 vs $244 – making Chiang Mai 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
Vilnius vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Vilnius or Chiang Mai?
Vilnius costs about 98% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by 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 Vilnius and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,530 per month in Vilnius 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, Vilnius or Chiang Mai?
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.
How do childcare costs compare in Vilnius and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $636 per month in Vilnius 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 Vilnius or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 6% more in Vilnius, 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 Vilnius or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $852, than in Vilnius at $1,687. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Vilnius it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Vilnius or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $1,687 in Vilnius. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Vilnius 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 Vilnius or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Vilnius makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.