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 $1,114 per month in Adama vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,756 per month in Adama vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,399 per month in Adama vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Adama costs about 31% 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 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.05 ETB 475

$1.96 ฿63.3

55.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.58 ETB 5,541

$18.81 ฿608

89.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.04 ETB 785

$7.92 ฿256

-36.36%

Cappuccino

$1.28 ETB 200

$1.91 ฿61.9

-32.98%

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

$0.67 ETB 104

$0.84 ฿27.11

-20.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ETB 48.49

$0.35 ฿11.38

-11.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.01 ETB 158

$2.21 ฿71.3

-54.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 ETB 462

$3.80 ฿123

-22.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 ETB 227

$1.64 ฿52.9

-10.98%

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 ETB 199

$1.62 ฿52.5

-21.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.12 ETB 331

$1.18 ฿38.20

79.66%

Eggs

$2.52 ETB 392

$2.01 ฿65.1

25.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.27 ETB 1,133

$15.89 ฿514

-54.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.73 ETB 2,138

$3.01 ฿97.4

356.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.38 ETB 2,084

$10.77 ฿348

24.23%

Apples (1kg)

$6.79 ETB 1,057

$2.61 ฿84.5

160.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.02 ETB 159

$1.22 ฿39.44

-16.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.23 ETB 348

$1.70 ฿55.1

31.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.92 ETB 144

$1.58 ฿51.0

-41.77%

Potato (1kg)

$0.63 ETB 97.8

$1.32 ฿42.67

-52.27%

Onion (1kg)

$1.91 ETB 297

$1.17 ฿37.81

63.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ETB 109

$0.67 ฿21.74

4.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 ETB 98.2

$0.56 ฿18.11

12.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.92 ETB 611

$4.53 ฿147

-13.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.74 ETB 893

$18.20 ฿589

-68.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 ETB 162

$1.83 ฿59.3

-43.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 ETB 283

$3.23 ฿104

-43.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿28.68

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿627

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.45 ETB 225

$1.35 ฿43.72

7.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 ETB 45.75

$1.35 ฿43.56

-78.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.03 ETB 316

$8.25 ฿267

-75.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 ETB 202

$1.27 ฿41.18

2.36%

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

$54.4K ETB 8.5M

$21.2K ฿684.2K

157.24%

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

$54.8K ETB 8.5M

$22.5K ฿727.2K

143.73%

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

$162 ETB 25.2K

$70.2 ฿2,269

131.09%

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

$12.16 ETB 1,893

$13.77 ฿445

-11.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$133 ETB 20.7K

$17.60 ฿569

654.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,345

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿213

Cinema Ticket

$5.87 ETB 914

$5.78 ฿187

1.56%

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

$79.7 ETB 12.4K

$306 ฿9,901

-73.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.9K ETB 6.2M

$14.8K ฿479.4K

169.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.05 ETB 7,483

$54.4 ฿1,758

-11.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$74.0 ETB 11.5K

$26.14 ฿845

183.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ETB 14.7K

$84.5 ฿2,734

11.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 ETB 18.0K

$69.4 ฿2,245

66.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$496 ETB 77.3K

$424 ฿13.7K

17.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$304 ETB 47.3K

$238 ฿7,703

27.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$982 ETB 153.0K

$825 ฿26.7K

19.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$813 ETB 126.7K

$515 ฿16.7K

57.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿66.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$102 ETB 15.8K

$635 ฿20.5K

-83.99%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $496 in Adama versus $424 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 524% 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 $36 in Adama versus $19 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $266 vs $243 – 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: $1,114 in Adama, $852 in Chiang Mai – roughly 31% apart. Adama costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,671 per month in Adama and $1,278 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 $36.00 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 10% 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 $1,114. 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 $1,114 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.