😐A single person spends $1,231 per month in Vlore vs $932 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,837 per month in Vlore vs $1,399 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,444 per month in Vlore vs $1,866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Vlore costs about 32% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Vlore and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Vlore10% lower, Chiang Mai32% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Vlore
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.03ALL 792
$2.08฿69.5
382.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.69ALL 3,135
$19.61฿655
102.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.64ALL 604
$5.67฿189
34.74%
Cappuccino
$1.99ALL 157
$1.81฿60.3
9.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.93ALL 152
$0.77฿25.65
150.65%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70ALL 55.1
$0.35฿11.53
100.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.46ALL 194
$2.21฿73.9
11.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.47ALL 274
$3.79฿127
-8.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vlore
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.01ALL 158
$2.05฿68.4
-1.95%
White Bread(500g)
$1.01ALL 79.5
$1.51฿50.6
-33.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.12ALL 168
$1.40฿46.69
51.43%
Eggs
$2.70ALL 213
$2.26฿75.4
19.47%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.38ALL 820
$16.19฿540
-35.89%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.71ALL 688
$2.90฿96.7
200.34%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.63ALL 1,156
$9.42฿314
55.31%
Apples(1kg)
$1.99ALL 157
$2.68฿89.4
-25.75%
Banana(1kg)
$2.37ALL 187
$1.09฿36.37
117.43%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.67ALL 132
$1.62฿54.0
3.09%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.62ALL 128
$1.46฿48.74
10.96%
Potato(1kg)
$1.06ALL 83.8
$1.28฿42.65
-17.19%
Onion(1kg)
$1.32ALL 104
$1.06฿35.31
24.53%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.22ALL 96.7
$0.72฿23.94
69.44%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78ALL 61.6
$0.53฿17.56
47.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.37ALL 345
$4.23฿141
3.31%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.92ALL 784
$18.29฿611
-45.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76ALL 139
$1.63฿54.4
7.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91ALL 151
$2.90฿96.8
-34.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Vlore
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51ALL 40.53
$0.88฿29.32
-42.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.36ALL 2,004
$53.8฿1,795
-52.84%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.83ALL 303
$1.17฿39.14
227.35%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.98ALL 314
$0.58฿19.30
586.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.77ALL 1,483
$2.39฿79.6
685.36%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.20ALL 174
$1.45฿48.41
51.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.8KALL 2.7M
$21.0K฿701.4K
65.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5KALL 2.0M
$26.4K฿882.0K
-3.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vlore
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$63.2ALL 4,990
$63.7฿2,125
-0.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.82ALL 1,328
$12.89฿430
30.49%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.91ALL 1,415
$20.52฿685
-12.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vlore
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.4ALL 4,533
$39.02฿1,302
47.05%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.96ALL 2,367
$3.92฿131
664.29%
Cinema Ticket
$8.64ALL 682
$6.58฿220
31.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vlore
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$102ALL 8,034
$784฿26.2K
-87.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$14.7K฿489.8K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vlore
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.88ALL 3,941
$55.1฿1,840
-9.49%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.6ALL 4,470
$24.74฿826
128.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101ALL 7,993
$94.1฿3,142
7.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$152ALL 12.0K
$74.0฿2,469
105.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vlore
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$555ALL 43.8K
$490฿16.4K
13.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$429ALL 33.9K
$288฿9,620
48.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$718ALL 56.7K
$891฿29.8K
-19.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$591ALL 46.7K
$521฿17.4K
13.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,141ALL 169.2K
$1,974฿65.9K
8.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,452ALL 114.7K
$1,444฿48.2K
0.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vlore
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$877ALL 69.3K
$602฿20.1K
45.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
5.57
-10.23%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Vlore: September 12, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $555 in Vlore versus $490 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 46% higher in Vlore, 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 $40.00 in Vlore versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $259 vs $241 – 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
Vlore vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Vlore or Chiang Mai?
Vlore costs about 32% 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 Vlore and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,846 per month in Vlore and $1,398 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Vlore 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 Vlore and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $102 per month in Vlore and $784 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 Vlore or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 8% more in Vlore, 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 Vlore or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $932, than in Vlore at $1,231. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Vlore it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Vlore or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $932 versus $1,231 in Vlore. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Vlore 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 Vlore or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Vlore makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.