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 $1,078 per month in Adama vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,761 per month in Adama vs $1,360 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,443 per month in Adama vs $1,867 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Adama costs about 26% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Adama and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Adama 19% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.02 ETB 483

$2.04 ฿68.4

48.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.39 ETB 5,651

$18.71 ฿626

89.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.97 ETB 794

$7.86 ฿263

-36.77%

Cappuccino

$1.25 ETB 199

$2.03 ฿67.9

-38.42%

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

$0.64 ETB 102

$0.80 ฿26.71

-20.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ETB 50.2

$0.35 ฿11.71

-11.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.98 ETB 157

$2.14 ฿71.7

-54.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 ETB 469

$3.67 ฿123

-19.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 ETB 221

$1.73 ฿57.8

-20.23%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 ETB 213

$1.57 ฿52.5

-15.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.15 ETB 343

$1.20 ฿40.10

79.17%

Eggs

$2.50 ETB 399

$1.97 ฿66.0

26.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.94 ETB 1,109

$16.23 ฿543

-57.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.03 ETB 2,241

$3.06 ฿102

358.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.32 ETB 2,128

$10.80 ฿361

23.33%

Apples (1kg)

$6.70 ETB 1,070

$2.77 ฿92.6

141.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.02 ETB 163

$1.17 ฿39.05

-12.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.25 ETB 359

$1.71 ฿57.1

31.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.97 ETB 154

$1.59 ฿53.3

-38.99%

Potato (1kg)

$0.68 ETB 108

$1.39 ฿46.63

-51.08%

Onion (1kg)

$1.84 ETB 294

$1.16 ฿38.67

58.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.64 ETB 102

$0.66 ฿22.11

-3.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 ETB 102

$0.52 ฿17.35

23.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.89 ETB 622

$4.65 ฿155

-16.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.66 ETB 903

$17.78 ฿595

-68.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.00 ETB 160

$1.79 ฿59.8

-44.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 ETB 291

$3.34 ฿112

-45.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.35

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿624

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.50 ETB 240

$1.41 ฿47.17

6.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 ETB 46.69

$1.34 ฿44.82

-78.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.97 ETB 315

$8.11 ฿271

-75.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 ETB 206

$1.23 ฿41.27

4.88%

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

$54.7K ETB 8.7M

$21.4K ฿717.0K

155.25%

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

$53.5K ETB 8.5M

$21.8K ฿730.0K

145.00%

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

$158 ETB 25.3K

$71.3 ฿2,386

121.91%

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

$12.11 ETB 1,934

$14.01 ฿469

-13.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$132 ETB 21.1K

$17.93 ฿600

636.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,365

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

Cinema Ticket

$5.64 ETB 900

$5.72 ฿191

-1.40%

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

$81.5 ETB 13.0K

$308 ฿10.3K

-73.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.5K ETB 6.5M

$14.7K ฿491.0K

176.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.27 ETB 7,549

$55.8 ฿1,865

-15.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$76.1 ETB 12.2K

$26.04 ฿871

192.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.8 ETB 14.8K

$84.8 ฿2,837

9.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 ETB 18.6K

$71.0 ฿2,375

63.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$494 ETB 78.9K

$423 ฿14.2K

16.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$304 ETB 48.6K

$242 ฿8,110

25.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$988 ETB 157.7K

$797 ฿26.7K

23.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$794 ETB 126.8K

$507 ฿17.0K

56.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿49.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$101 ETB 16.2K

$595 ฿19.9K

-82.94%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $494 in Adama versus $423 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 486% 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 $35.00 in Adama versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $266 vs $244 – 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: $1,078 in Adama, $852 in Chiang Mai – roughly 26% apart. Adama costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,617 per month in Adama and $1,279 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 $35.00 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 9% 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 $852, than in Adama at $1,078. 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 $852 in Chiang Mai to $1,078 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.