🙂A single person spends $350 per month in Zliten vs $932 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $539 per month in Zliten vs $1,399 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $728 per month in Zliten vs $1,866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Zliten is about 62% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Zliten and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Zliten74% lower, Chiang Mai32% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Zliten
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.90LYD 24.72
$2.08฿69.2
87.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.85LYD 81.5
$19.61฿652
-34.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$2.54LYD 16.09
$5.67฿189
-55.20%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.45LYD 2.88
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61LYD 3.86
-
-
Cappuccino
$0.40LYD 2.55
$1.81฿60.0
-77.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.41LYD 2.57
$0.77฿25.55
-46.75%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.11LYD 0.68
$0.35฿11.48
-68.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.21฿73.6
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.79฿126
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zliten
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.83LYD 5.25
$2.05฿68.1
-59.51%
White Bread(500g)
$0.20LYD 1.27
$1.51฿50.4
-86.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.81LYD 5.14
$1.40฿46.51
-42.14%
Eggs
$1.16LYD 7.33
$2.26฿75.1
-48.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.07LYD 32.11
$16.19฿538
-68.68%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.90LYD 18.40
$2.90฿96.3
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.34LYD 59.2
$9.42฿313
-0.85%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29LYD 14.51
$2.68฿89.1
-14.55%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51LYD 9.56
$1.09฿36.23
38.53%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.72LYD 4.58
$1.62฿53.8
-55.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.57LYD 3.58
$1.46฿48.55
-60.96%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71LYD 4.52
$1.28฿42.48
-44.53%
Onion(1kg)
$0.46LYD 2.89
$1.06฿35.17
-56.60%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.43LYD 2.72
$0.72฿23.85
-40.28%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.20LYD 1.24
$0.53฿17.49
-62.26%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$1.78LYD 11.30
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.07LYD 6.76
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80LYD 5.06
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.00LYD 12.67
$4.23฿141
-52.72%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$18.29฿608
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.63฿54.2
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.90฿96.5
-
🚌 Getting Around
Zliten
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.88฿29.20
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$53.8฿1,788
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.78LYD 4.93
$1.17฿38.99
-33.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.49LYD 3.12
$0.58฿19.22
-15.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$2.39฿79.3
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.02LYD 0.13
$1.45฿48.22
-98.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.7KLYD 150.3K
$21.0K฿698.6K
12.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$14.2KLYD 90.3K
$26.4K฿878.6K
-46.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zliten
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$95.1LYD 603
$63.7฿2,116
49.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.94LYD 37.64
$12.89฿429
-53.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.82LYD 176
$20.52฿682
35.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zliten
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$39.02฿1,297
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.92฿130
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$6.58฿219
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zliten
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$53.5LYD 339
$784฿26.1K
-93.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$625LYD 3,959
$14.7K฿487.9K
-95.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zliten
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$20.76LYD 132
$55.1฿1,833
-62.33%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$17.71LYD 112
$24.74฿823
-28.42%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$56.3LYD 357
$94.1฿3,130
-40.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$67.8LYD 430
$74.0฿2,459
-8.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zliten
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$490฿16.3K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$288฿9,582
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$891฿29.6K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$521฿17.3K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,974฿65.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,444฿48.0K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zliten
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$602฿20.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
5.57
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Zliten: September 13, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $13.00 in Zliten versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $109 vs $241 – making Zliten 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
Zliten vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Zliten or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 167% more than Zliten, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 Zliten and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $525 per month in Zliten and $1,398 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do dining costs compare in Zliten and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $13.00 in Zliten and $20.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Zliten or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 121% more in Chiang Mai, 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 $2,000/month in Zliten or in Chiang Mai?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Zliten, where all-in costs run around $350, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Zliten it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Zliten or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Zliten costs $350 versus $932 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Zliten 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 Zliten or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Zliten. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.