Cost of Living Comparison Between Bahir Dar and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Bahir Dar and Chiang Mai

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $377 per month in Bahir Dar vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $564 per month in Bahir Dar vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $751 per month in Bahir Dar vs $1,855 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Bahir Dar is about 57% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Bahir Dar and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Bahir Dar 72% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.45 ETB 547

$1.98 ฿64.3

74.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

Cappuccino

$0.99 ETB 156

$1.92 ฿62.5

-48.44%

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

$0.39 ETB 61.3

$0.79 ฿25.79

-50.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 ETB 82.8

$0.36 ฿11.62

44.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.71 ETB 113

$2.21 ฿72.1

-67.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 ETB 324

$3.66 ฿119

-44.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.01 ETB 161

$1.65 ฿53.8

-38.79%

White Bread (500g)

$0.99 ETB 157

$1.63 ฿53.2

-39.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 ETB 155

$1.19 ฿38.86

-17.65%

Eggs

$1.70 ETB 270

$2.00 ฿65.1

-15.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.18 ETB 1,614

$10.86 ฿354

-6.26%

Apples (1kg)

$2.91 ETB 461

$2.76 ฿90.0

5.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.03 ETB 163

$1.18 ฿38.42

-12.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.06 ETB 326

$1.64 ฿53.5

25.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.78 ETB 123

$1.52 ฿49.51

-48.68%

Potato (1kg)

$0.62 ETB 98.9

$1.38 ฿45.10

-55.07%

Onion (1kg)

$1.18 ETB 187

$1.19 ฿38.84

-0.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 ETB 162

$0.70 ฿22.86

45.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ETB 81.2

$0.56 ฿18.13

-8.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

Wine (Bottle)

$4.04 ETB 640

$16.56 ฿539

-75.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 ETB 130

$1.83 ฿59.5

-55.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 ETB 322

$3.20 ฿104

-36.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.48 ETB 76.2

$1.34 ฿43.65

-64.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.06 ETB 326

$7.84 ฿256

-73.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 ETB 154

$1.23 ฿39.92

-21.14%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

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

$102 ETB 16.1K

$70.5 ฿2,298

44.23%

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

$10.04 ETB 1,591

$13.68 ฿445

-26.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.82 ETB 7,896

$41.33 ฿1,346

20.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$59.6 ETB 9,446

$6.96 ฿227

756.32%

Cinema Ticket

$5.97 ETB 947

$5.77 ฿188

3.47%

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

$49.85 ETB 7,901

$307 ฿10.0K

-83.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.55 ETB 7,853

$55.8 ฿1,817

-11.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,989 ETB 315.3K

$1,983 ฿64.6K

0.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,514 ETB 240.0K

$1,484 ฿48.3K

2.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$201 ETB 31.8K

$619 ฿20.2K

-67.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Bahir Dar: June 8, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 208% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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

Bahir Dar vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 131% more than Bahir Dar, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $565 per month in Bahir Dar and $1,303 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $377 in Bahir Dar and $869 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 93% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $377 in Bahir Dar and $869 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bahir Dar costs $377 versus $869 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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