Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Bahir Dar and Chiang Mai

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

For one person, living is cheaper in Bahir Dar: $374 a month against $936 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $6,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

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Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index

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Bahir Dar

🇪🇹 Ethiopia

$374

/mo nomad

Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$936

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Bahir Dar and in Chiang Mai

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Bahir Dar and in Chiang Mai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $374 per month in Bahir Dar vs $936 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Bahir Dar $374
Chiang Mai $936

A couple spends around $568 per month in Bahir Dar vs $1,457 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Bahir Dar $568
Chiang Mai $1,457

A family of three spends $763 per month in Bahir Dar vs $1,979 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Bahir Dar $763
Chiang Mai $1,979

Bahir Dar is about 60% cheaper than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Bahir Dar and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Bahir Dar 73% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.43 ETB 553

$2.24 ฿75.5

53.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.00 ฿640

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.55 ฿187

Cappuccino

$1.02 ETB 164

$1.67 ฿56.4

-38.92%

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

$0.41 ETB 66.7

$0.64 ฿21.51

-35.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ETB 78.0

$0.31 ฿10.29

54.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.72 ETB 116

$2.36 ฿79.5

-69.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 ETB 315

$3.66 ฿123

-46.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.98 ETB 157

$1.95 ฿65.7

-49.74%

White Bread (500g)

$1.02 ETB 164

$1.44 ฿48.41

-29.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.01 ETB 163

$1.33 ฿44.97

-24.06%

Eggs

$1.77 ETB 285

$2.28 ฿77.0

-22.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.45 ฿554

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.78 ฿93.8

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.06 ETB 1,620

$9.31 ฿314

8.06%

Apples (1kg)

$3.04 ETB 489

$2.35 ฿79.3

29.36%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 ETB 157

$0.97 ฿32.75

Oranges (1kg)

$2.03 ETB 327

$1.60 ฿53.8

26.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.79 ETB 127

$1.50 ฿50.6

-47.33%

Potato (1kg)

$0.62 ETB 99.7

$1.28 ฿43.06

-51.56%

Onion (1kg)

$1.18 ETB 191

$1.10 ฿37.14

7.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 ETB 164

$0.71 ฿23.79

43.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ETB 82.9

$0.49 ฿16.34

4.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 ฿140

Wine (Bottle)

$4.03 ETB 650

$17.52 ฿590

-77.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 ETB 125

$1.61 ฿54.4

-52.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 ETB 313

$2.78 ฿93.8

-30.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ฿29.27

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.1 ฿1,823

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 ฿39.00

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.48 ETB 77.3

$0.53 ฿17.78

-9.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.97 ETB 316

$2.42 ฿81.6

-18.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 ETB 164

$1.45 ฿48.82

-29.66%

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

$21.1K ฿709.7K

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

$26.9K ฿907.9K

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

$101 ETB 16.2K

$62.2 ฿2,095

62.15%

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

$10.15 ETB 1,635

$12.17 ฿410

-16.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ฿678

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.9 ETB 8,189

$37.31 ฿1,257

36.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$60.5 ETB 9,734

$3.77 ฿127

1503.71%

Cinema Ticket

$6.10 ETB 982

$6.49 ฿219

-6.01%

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

$49.48 ETB 7,967

$736 ฿24.8K

-93.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿497.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.10 ETB 7,905

$53.4 ฿1,799

-8.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.64 ฿830

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.5 ฿3,083

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.9 ฿2,424

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 ฿10.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 ฿33.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$633 ฿21.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,039 ETB 328.3K

$2,363 ฿79.6K

-13.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,502 ETB 241.8K

$1,589 ฿53.6K

-5.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$200 ETB 32.2K

$590 ฿19.9K

-66.13%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Bahir Dar: October 25, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Bahir Dar

–

Chiang Mai

$309 33%

Groceries & Markets

Bahir Dar

–

Chiang Mai

$234 25.1%

Clothing & Footwear

Bahir Dar

–

Chiang Mai

$109 11.6%

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Bahir Dar

–

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Eating Out

Bahir Dar

–

Chiang Mai

$78 8.3%

Getting Around

Bahir Dar

–

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Sport & Entertainment

Bahir Dar

–

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Cost Breakdown

Salaries in Chiang Mai are about 3 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

Good to know

🇪🇹 Bahir Dar

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🕒 Local time

05:42 5:42 AM

09:42 9:42 AM

4 h ahead of Bahir Dar

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

350,000

127,240

💱 Currency

Ethiopian Birr ETB Br

Thai Baht THB ฿

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 ETB = 6.21 USD

1,000 ETB = 5.58 EUR

100 THB = 2.97 USD

100 THB = 2.67 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to ETB – Ethiopian Birr Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇪🇹 Ethiopian Birr (Br)

Ethiopian Birr exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 161 ETB (1,000 ETB = 6.21 USD). 1 EUR = 179 ETB (1,000 ETB = 5.58 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 33.7 THB (100 THB = 2.97 USD). 1 EUR = 37.52 THB (100 THB = 2.67 EUR).

USD to ETB in detail →

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Bahir Dar Chiang Mai 6,630 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight

From you

Bahir Dar
Chiang Mai

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 150% more than Bahir Dar, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $561 per month in Bahir Dar and $1,403 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 $374 in Bahir Dar and $936 in Chiang Mai. That makes Bahir Dar about 60% cheaper.

Groceries cost about 88% more in Chiang Mai, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A $800 monthly budget goes further in Bahir Dar, where all-in costs run around $374, than in Chiang Mai at $936. In Bahir Dar it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai 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 $374 in Bahir Dar to $936 in Chiang Mai. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

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