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 $373 per month in Bahir Dar vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $568 per month in Bahir Dar vs $1,360 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $764 per month in Bahir Dar vs $1,867 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Bahir Dar is about 56% 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 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.40 ETB 543

$2.04 ฿68.4

66.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿626

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿263

Cappuccino

$0.98 ETB 157

$2.03 ฿67.9

-51.72%

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

$0.41 ETB 65.8

$0.80 ฿26.71

-48.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 ETB 83.7

$0.35 ฿11.71

48.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.74 ETB 117

$2.14 ฿71.7

-65.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 ETB 317

$3.67 ฿123

-45.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.98 ETB 157

$1.73 ฿57.8

-43.35%

White Bread (500g)

$0.99 ETB 158

$1.57 ฿52.5

-36.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.02 ETB 163

$1.20 ฿40.10

-15.00%

Eggs

$1.77 ETB 282

$1.97 ฿66.0

-10.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿543

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.14 ETB 1,619

$10.80 ฿361

-6.11%

Apples (1kg)

$2.97 ETB 474

$2.77 ฿92.6

7.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.01 ETB 162

$1.17 ฿39.05

-13.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.04 ETB 326

$1.71 ฿57.1

19.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.78 ETB 125

$1.59 ฿53.3

-50.94%

Potato (1kg)

$0.62 ETB 99.6

$1.39 ฿46.63

-55.40%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ETB 187

$1.16 ฿38.67

0.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 ETB 161

$0.66 ฿22.11

53.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ETB 76.9

$0.52 ฿17.35

-7.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

Wine (Bottle)

$4.07 ETB 649

$17.78 ฿595

-77.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 ETB 133

$1.79 ฿59.8

-53.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 ETB 317

$3.34 ฿112

-40.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.35

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿624

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.17

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.48 ETB 76.7

$1.34 ฿44.82

-64.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.97 ETB 315

$8.11 ฿271

-75.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 ETB 164

$1.23 ฿41.27

-16.26%

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

$21.4K ฿717.0K

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

$21.8K ฿730.0K

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

$101 ETB 16.1K

$71.3 ฿2,386

41.68%

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

$9.95 ETB 1,590

$14.01 ฿469

-28.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿600

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.9 ETB 8,133

$40.82 ฿1,365

24.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$61.1 ETB 9,754

$6.88 ฿230

787.79%

Cinema Ticket

$6.14 ETB 980

$5.72 ฿191

7.34%

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

$50.4 ETB 8,047

$308 ฿10.3K

-83.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿491.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.40 ETB 7,889

$55.8 ฿1,865

-11.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿871

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,837

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,375

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,110

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿17.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,008 ETB 320.7K

$1,918 ฿64.2K

4.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,489 ETB 237.8K

$1,464 ฿49.0K

1.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$198 ETB 31.6K

$595 ฿19.9K

-66.78%

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 201% 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 129% 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 $559 per month in Bahir Dar and $1,279 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 $373 in Bahir Dar and $852 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 96% 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 $373 in Bahir Dar and $852 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bahir Dar costs $373 versus $852 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.