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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $513 per month in Aba vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $744 per month in Aba vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $975 per month in Aba vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Aba is about 41% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Aba and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Aba 62% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.30 ₦7,213

$1.94 ฿63.5

173.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.48 ₦14.3K

$18.64 ฿609

-43.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.20 ₦7,084

$7.82 ฿255

-33.50%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 ₦514

$0.85 ฿27.77

-55.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 ₦368

$0.35 ฿11.58

-22.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.02 ₦1,391

$2.13 ฿69.6

-52.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.28 ₦1,743

$3.73 ฿122

-65.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

White Bread (500g)

$2.05 ₦2,788

$1.63 ฿53.2

25.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.11 ₦5,596

$1.14 ฿37.15

260.53%

Eggs

$2.44 ₦3,321

$1.93 ฿63.1

26.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$1.50 ₦2,049

$16.21 ฿530

-90.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.30 ₦7,222

$3.12 ฿102

69.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

Oranges (1kg)

$0.41 ₦552

$1.62 ฿53.0

-74.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.51 ₦690

$1.59 ฿51.8

-67.92%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ₦1,749

$1.40 ฿45.70

-8.57%

Onion (1kg)

$0.55 ₦743

$1.17 ฿38.17

-52.99%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.19 ₦1,620

$4.69 ฿153

-74.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.36 ₦10.0K

$18.66 ฿609

-60.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 ₦743

$0.90 ฿29.26

-38.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.51 ₦688

$1.41 ฿45.91

-63.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.48 ₦657

$1.29 ฿42.12

-62.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.10 ₦2,856

$7.84 ฿256

-73.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.68 ₦925

$1.27 ฿41.58

-46.46%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.3K ฿694.9K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$22.2K ฿725.4K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$69.1 ฿2,256

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$14.08 ฿460

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.78 ₦17.4K

$41.06 ฿1,341

-68.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.46 ₦8,801

$6.96 ฿227

-7.18%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$92.0 ₦125.3K

$299 ฿9,766

-69.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.13 ₦28.8K

$54.7 ฿1,787

-61.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$15.60 ₦21.3K

$26.77 ฿874

-41.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$519 ₦706.7K

$428 ฿14.0K

21.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$314 ₦428.2K

$237 ฿7,752

32.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$792 ₦1.1M

$801 ฿26.2K

-1.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$469 ₦638.1K

$515 ฿16.8K

-9.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$95.1 ₦129.5K

$617 ฿20.2K

-84.60%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Aba: June 1, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $519 in Aba versus $428 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 549% higher in Chiang Mai, 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 $10.00 in Aba versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $102 vs $246 – making Aba 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

Aba vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Chiang Mai is pricier by about 69%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $770 per month in Aba and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Aba, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $513 in Aba and $866 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $92.0 per month in Aba and $299 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $513 in Aba and $866 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Aba – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Aba. 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.