😐A single person spends $1,140 per month in Vlore vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,694 per month in Vlore vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,248 per month in Vlore vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Vlore costs about 34% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Vlore and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Vlore15% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Vlore
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.61ALL 785
$1.96฿64.0
390.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.39ALL 3,053
$18.81฿615
98.78%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.27ALL 593
$7.92฿259
-8.21%
Cappuccino
$1.86ALL 152
$1.91฿62.6
-2.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57ALL 128
$0.84฿27.41
86.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87ALL 71.0
$0.35฿11.51
148.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.32ALL 189
$2.21฿72.1
4.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.19ALL 261
$3.80฿124
-16.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vlore
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.05ALL 167
$1.64฿53.5
25.00%
White Bread(500g)
$0.86ALL 70.2
$1.62฿53.1
-46.91%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.03ALL 166
$1.18฿38.62
72.03%
Eggs
$3.01ALL 245
$2.01฿65.8
49.75%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.08ALL 823
$15.89฿520
-36.56%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.65ALL 625
$3.01฿98.5
154.15%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.14ALL 1,073
$10.77฿352
22.01%
Apples(1kg)
$1.85ALL 151
$2.61฿85.5
-29.12%
Banana(1kg)
$2.43ALL 199
$1.22฿39.88
99.18%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.71ALL 140
$1.70฿55.7
0.59%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.39ALL 113
$1.58฿51.5
-12.03%
Potato(1kg)
$1.05ALL 85.6
$1.32฿43.14
-20.45%
Onion(1kg)
$1.23ALL 100
$1.17฿38.23
5.13%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.10ALL 89.6
$0.67฿21.98
64.18%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72ALL 59.0
$0.56฿18.32
28.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.02ALL 328
$4.53฿148
-11.26%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.03ALL 819
$18.20฿595
-44.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70ALL 139
$1.83฿60.0
-7.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74ALL 142
$3.23฿106
-46.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Vlore
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.49ALL 39.75
$0.89฿29.00
-44.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$23.89ALL 1,951
$19.38฿634
23.27%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.56ALL 291
$1.35฿44.20
163.70%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$4.65ALL 379
$1.35฿44.05
244.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.65ALL 1,441
$8.25฿270
113.94%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.12ALL 173
$1.27฿41.64
66.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.8KALL 2.8M
$21.2K฿691.8K
64.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.2KALL 2.1M
$22.5K฿735.3K
11.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vlore
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$68.3ALL 5,575
$70.2฿2,294
-2.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.11ALL 1,397
$13.77฿450
24.26%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.12ALL 1,316
$17.60฿575
-8.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vlore
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.9ALL 4,564
$41.57฿1,360
34.47%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.73ALL 2,264
$6.60฿216
320.15%
Cinema Ticket
$8.02ALL 655
$5.78฿189
38.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vlore
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$93.5ALL 7,636
$306฿10.0K
-69.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$14.8K฿484.8K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vlore
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.33ALL 3,864
$54.4฿1,778
-12.95%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.7ALL 4,381
$26.14฿855
105.24%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.1ALL 7,604
$84.5฿2,764
10.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$139ALL 11.3K
$69.4฿2,270
99.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vlore
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$480ALL 39.2K
$424฿13.9K
13.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$365ALL 29.8K
$238฿7,788
53.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$617ALL 50.3K
$825฿27.0K
-25.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$442ALL 36.1K
$515฿16.8K
-14.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,111ALL 172.4K
$2,049฿67.0K
3.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,400ALL 114.3K
$1,523฿49.8K
-8.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vlore
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$854ALL 69.8K
$635฿20.8K
34.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4
5
-20.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Vlore: April 28, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $480 in Vlore versus $424 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 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 $37.00 in Vlore versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $245 vs $243 – 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 34% 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 vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,710 per month in Vlore and $1,278 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 Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $93.5 per month in Vlore and $306 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 Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 1% 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 Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $852, than in Vlore at $1,140. 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 $852 versus $1,140 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 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.