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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,113 per month in Adama vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,782 per month in Adama vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,451 per month in Adama vs $1,855 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Adama costs about 28% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Adama and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Adama 17% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.03 ETB 480

$1.98 ฿64.6

53.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.50 ETB 5,468

$18.80 ฿615

83.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.10 ETB 808

$7.75 ฿253

-34.19%

Cappuccino

$1.27 ETB 202

$1.92 ฿62.7

-33.85%

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

$0.69 ETB 109

$0.79 ฿25.87

-12.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ETB 49.29

$0.36 ฿11.66

-13.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.99 ETB 156

$2.21 ฿72.3

-55.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 ETB 478

$3.66 ฿120

-17.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.45 ETB 231

$1.65 ฿54.0

-12.12%

White Bread (500g)

$1.35 ETB 214

$1.63 ฿53.3

-17.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.12 ETB 336

$1.19 ฿38.99

78.15%

Eggs

$2.41 ETB 382

$2.00 ฿65.3

20.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.22 ETB 1,145

$15.98 ฿522

-54.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.10 ETB 2,235

$3.03 ฿98.9

365.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.43 ETB 2,129

$10.86 ฿355

23.66%

Apples (1kg)

$6.75 ETB 1,070

$2.76 ฿90.3

144.57%

Banana (1kg)

$0.96 ETB 152

$1.18 ฿38.55

-18.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.19 ETB 347

$1.64 ฿53.7

33.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.98 ETB 156

$1.52 ฿49.68

-35.53%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 ETB 107

$1.38 ฿45.25

-51.45%

Onion (1kg)

$1.89 ETB 300

$1.19 ฿38.97

58.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 ETB 109

$0.70 ฿22.94

-1.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 ETB 99.8

$0.56 ฿18.19

12.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.93 ETB 623

$4.58 ฿150

-14.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.53 ETB 876

$16.56 ฿541

-66.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 ETB 165

$1.83 ฿59.7

-43.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 ETB 300

$3.20 ฿105

-40.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.66

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿612

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 ETB 228

$1.36 ฿44.31

5.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 ETB 46.09

$1.34 ฿43.80

-78.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.05 ETB 324

$7.84 ฿256

-73.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 ETB 205

$1.23 ฿40.06

4.88%

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

$54.7K ETB 8.7M

$21.6K ฿706.7K

152.80%

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

$54.7K ETB 8.7M

$22.5K ฿736.8K

142.78%

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

$162 ETB 25.6K

$70.5 ฿2,305

129.19%

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

$11.84 ETB 1,877

$13.68 ฿447

-13.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$129 ETB 20.4K

$17.45 ฿570

637.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,351

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿228

Cinema Ticket

$5.63 ETB 893

$5.77 ฿189

-2.43%

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

$80.5 ETB 12.8K

$307 ฿10.0K

-73.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.5K ETB 6.4M

$14.6K ฿477.5K

177.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.44 ETB 7,361

$55.8 ฿1,823

-16.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$75.1 ETB 11.9K

$26.21 ฿856

186.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.3 ETB 14.6K

$85.8 ฿2,802

7.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 ETB 17.8K

$72.2 ฿2,361

55.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$509 ETB 80.6K

$430 ฿14.0K

18.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$302 ETB 47.9K

$239 ฿7,800

26.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,005 ETB 159.3K

$817 ฿26.7K

22.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$791 ETB 125.4K

$511 ฿16.7K

54.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$101 ETB 15.9K

$619 ฿20.2K

-83.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

240.00%

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

Last update for Adama: June 8, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $509 in Adama versus $430 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 516% higher in Chiang Mai, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $34.00 in Adama versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $268 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $1,113 in Adama, $869 in Chiang Mai – roughly 28% apart. Adama costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,670 per month in Adama and $1,303 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $34.00 in Adama and $19.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 11% more in Adama, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $869, than in Adama at $1,113. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Adama it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $869 in Chiang Mai to $1,113 in Adama. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Adama makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.