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 $1,009 per month in Adama vs $950 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,695 per month in Adama vs $1,430 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,381 per month in Adama vs $1,909 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Adama costs about 6% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Adama and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Adama 27% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.02 ETB 486

$2.10 ฿69.3

43.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.82 ETB 6,722

$19.84 ฿656

110.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.07 ETB 815

$5.79 ฿191

-12.44%

Cappuccino

$0.90 ETB 145

$1.83 ฿60.4

-50.82%

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

$0.58 ETB 93.2

$0.78 ฿25.61

-25.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 ETB 46.06

$0.31 ฿10.37

-6.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.78 ETB 125

$2.34 ฿77.2

-66.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 ETB 365

$3.70 ฿122

-38.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.82 ETB 132

$2.03 ฿67.1

-59.61%

White Bread (500g)

$1.22 ETB 197

$1.60 ฿52.7

-23.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.19 ETB 351

$1.42 ฿46.75

54.23%

Eggs

$1.79 ETB 288

$2.18 ฿71.9

-17.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.53 ETB 1,211

$15.91 ฿526

-52.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.24 ETB 1,646

$3.07 ฿102

233.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.34 ETB 1,502

$9.87 ฿326

-5.37%

Apples (1kg)

$5.49 ETB 882

$2.63 ฿86.8

108.75%

Banana (1kg)

$0.68 ETB 109

$1.10 ฿36.19

-38.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.24 ETB 360

$1.63 ฿53.8

37.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.71 ETB 114

$1.53 ฿50.6

-53.59%

Potato (1kg)

$0.46 ETB 73.6

$1.24 ฿41.13

-62.90%

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 ETB 175

$1.13 ฿37.37

-3.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 ETB 110

$0.74 ฿24.38

-6.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ETB 92.1

$0.50 ฿16.48

14.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.05 ETB 1,294

$4.28 ฿141

88.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.73 ETB 921

$17.97 ฿594

-68.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 ETB 113

$1.70 ฿56.1

-58.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.26 ETB 203

$2.90 ฿95.7

-56.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.29 ETB 208

$1.23 ฿40.76

4.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ETB 43.18

$0.53 ฿17.66

-49.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.94 ETB 312

$2.40 ฿79.3

-19.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 ETB 151

$1.44 ฿47.55

-34.72%

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

$54.0K ETB 8.7M

$21.2K ฿700.2K

154.94%

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

$54.7K ETB 8.8M

$27.3K ฿902.1K

100.38%

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

$203 ETB 32.6K

$64.9 ฿2,145

212.63%

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

$7.20 ETB 1,158

$13.35 ฿441

-46.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$212 ETB 34.0K

$20.83 ฿688

915.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$3.70 ETB 595

$6.71 ฿222

-44.86%

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

$138 ETB 22.2K

$787 ฿26.0K

-82.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.8K ETB 4.9M

$15.1K ฿499.6K

103.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$33.04 ETB 5,312

$56.2 ฿1,858

-41.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$71.0 ETB 11.4K

$24.95 ฿824

184.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.8 ETB 12.7K

$92.7 ฿3,063

-14.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.9 ETB 13.3K

$75.1 ฿2,482

10.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$350 ETB 56.3K

$484 ฿16.0K

-27.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$202 ETB 32.4K

$287 ฿9,491

-29.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$985 ETB 158.4K

$910 ฿30.1K

8.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$785 ETB 126.2K

$531 ฿17.5K

47.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$102 ETB 16.3K

$605 ฿20.0K

-83.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.5

5.57

232.14%

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

Last update for Adama: September 7, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $350 in Adama versus $484 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 496% 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 $42.00 in Adama versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $213 in Adama vs $242 in Chiang Mai – so Adama wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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: $1,009 in Adama, $950 in Chiang Mai – roughly 6% apart. Adama costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,513 per month in Adama and $1,426 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 $42.00 in Adama and $20.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 14% cheaper in Adama – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $950, than in Adama at $1,009. 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 $950 in Chiang Mai to $1,009 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.