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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $124 in Ajdabiya versus $866 in Chiang Mai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $198 in Ajdabiya versus $1,351 in Chiang Mai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $271 in Ajdabiya versus $1,835 in Chiang Mai.

Living in Ajdabiya costs roughly 86% less than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ajdabiya 91% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.06 LYD 51.2

$10.90 ฿356

-26.06%

Apples (1kg)

$1.48 LYD 9.41

$2.75 ฿90.0

-46.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 LYD 7.06

$1.21 ฿39.52

-8.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.75 LYD 4.78

$1.62 ฿53.0

-53.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.45 LYD 2.84

$1.59 ฿51.8

-71.70%

Potato (1kg)

$0.45 LYD 2.85

$1.40 ฿45.70

-67.86%

Onion (1kg)

$0.48 LYD 3.02

$1.17 ฿38.17

-58.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.18 LYD 1.17

$0.53 ฿17.22

-66.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.80 LYD 11.40

$4.69 ฿153

-61.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.95 LYD 6.00

$1.41 ฿45.91

-32.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

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)

$41.06 ฿1,341

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

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

$299 ฿9,766

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$129 LYD 817

$428 ฿14.0K

-69.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$72.5 LYD 460

$237 ฿7,752

-69.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$273 LYD 1,731

$801 ฿26.2K

-65.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$147 LYD 931

$515 ฿16.8K

-71.54%

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)

$617 ฿20.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Ajdabiya: May 31, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $129 in Ajdabiya and $428 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

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

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

Ajdabiya wins on cost – living expenses run 599% lower than in Chiang Mai. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ajdabiya the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $186 in Ajdabiya and $1,300 in Chiang Mai to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $129 in Ajdabiya versus $428 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 413% higher in Chiang Mai. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $124 per month in Ajdabiya versus $866 in Chiang Mai – a 599% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Ajdabiya gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both work as nomad bases, but Ajdabiya delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $124 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ajdabiya hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Ajdabiya and Chiang Mai are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Ajdabiya gentler on the wallet – expenses run 599% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.