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 $368 per month in Bahir Dar vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $566 per month in Bahir Dar vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $765 per month in Bahir Dar vs $1,857 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 73% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.46 ETB 540

$1.96 ฿63.6

76.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿611

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿258

Cappuccino

$1.02 ETB 159

$1.91 ฿62.2

-46.60%

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

$0.41 ETB 64.3

$0.84 ฿27.25

-51.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 ETB 80.6

$0.35 ฿11.44

48.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.78 ETB 122

$2.21 ฿71.7

-64.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 ETB 314

$3.80 ฿124

-47.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.98 ETB 152

$1.64 ฿53.2

-40.24%

White Bread (500g)

$0.97 ETB 152

$1.62 ฿52.8

-40.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.99 ETB 154

$1.18 ฿38.40

-16.10%

Eggs

$1.78 ETB 278

$2.01 ฿65.4

-11.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿517

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.0

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.11 ETB 1,578

$10.77 ฿350

-6.13%

Apples (1kg)

$3.06 ETB 477

$2.61 ฿85.0

17.24%

Banana (1kg)

$0.99 ETB 154

$1.22 ฿39.65

-18.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.03 ETB 317

$1.70 ฿55.4

19.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.79 ETB 123

$1.58 ฿51.2

-50.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 ETB 104

$1.32 ฿42.89

-50.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.18 ETB 183

$1.17 ฿38.01

0.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.97 ETB 152

$0.67 ฿21.85

44.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ETB 80.7

$0.56 ฿18.21

-7.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿147

Wine (Bottle)

$4.01 ETB 626

$18.20 ฿592

-77.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 ETB 128

$1.83 ฿59.6

-55.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 ETB 321

$3.23 ฿105

-36.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿28.83

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿630

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿43.95

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.51 ETB 80.2

$1.35 ฿43.79

-62.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.04 ETB 318

$8.25 ฿268

-75.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 ETB 158

$1.27 ฿41.40

-20.47%

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

$21.2K ฿687.8K

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

$22.5K ฿731.0K

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

$99.3 ETB 15.5K

$70.2 ฿2,281

41.51%

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

$10.15 ETB 1,585

$13.77 ฿448

-26.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿572

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.85 ETB 7,780

$41.57 ฿1,352

19.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$58.9 ETB 9,192

$6.60 ฿215

792.42%

Cinema Ticket

$6.06 ETB 946

$5.78 ฿188

4.84%

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

$50.2 ETB 7,833

$306 ฿9,953

-83.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿482.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.56 ETB 7,734

$54.4 ฿1,768

-8.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿850

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,748

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,257

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,743

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿26.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,988 ETB 310.2K

$2,049 ฿66.6K

-3.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,511 ETB 235.8K

$1,523 ฿49.5K

-0.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$199 ETB 31.1K

$635 ฿20.6K

-68.60%

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: April 28, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 219% 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 132% 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 $551 per month in Bahir Dar and $1,278 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 $368 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 95% 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 $368 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 $368 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.