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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $664 per month in Banjul vs $920 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,170 per month in Banjul vs $1,408 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,675 per month in Banjul vs $1,895 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Banjul is about 28% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Banjul and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Banjul 52% lower, Chiang Mai 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.66 GMD 571

$2.11 ฿69.6

263.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.1 GMD 5,674

$19.75 ฿652

285.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 GMD 586

$5.85 ฿193

34.36%

Cappuccino

$3.76 GMD 280

$1.76 ฿58.1

113.64%

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

$2.69 GMD 201

$0.74 ฿24.52

263.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 GMD 123

$0.33 ฿10.97

400.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.90 GMD 440

$2.47 ฿81.5

138.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.71 GMD 351

$3.88 ฿128

21.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 GMD 99.6

$1.90 ฿62.8

-29.47%

White Bread (500g)

$0.54 GMD 40.11

$1.67 ฿55.0

-67.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 GMD 98.1

$1.35 ฿44.53

-2.22%

Eggs

$1.88 GMD 140

$2.14 ฿70.6

-12.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.02 GMD 449

$15.89 ฿525

-62.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.75 GMD 205

$2.83 ฿93.5

-2.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.48 GMD 408

$10.53 ฿348

-47.96%

Apples (1kg)

$2.07 GMD 154

$2.38 ฿78.7

-13.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.23 GMD 91.6

$1.07 ฿35.24

14.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.76 GMD 131

$1.52 ฿50.1

15.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.34 GMD 99.7

$1.50 ฿49.62

-10.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.87 GMD 65.0

$1.28 ฿42.22

-32.03%

Onion (1kg)

$1.02 GMD 75.7

$1.10 ฿36.40

-7.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.25 GMD 18.75

$0.69 ฿22.68

-63.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 GMD 49.23

$0.49 ฿16.28

34.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.67 GMD 125

$4.27 ฿141

-60.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.45 GMD 481

$16.78 ฿554

-61.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 GMD 113

$1.66 ฿54.7

-8.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.68 GMD 125

$2.81 ฿92.9

-40.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 GMD 14.53

$0.90 ฿29.63

-78.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.47 GMD 482

$54.9 ฿1,813

-88.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 ฿39.49

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.65 GMD 48.73

$0.54 ฿17.89

20.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.16 GMD 310

$2.37 ฿78.4

75.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.04 GMD 77.8

$1.43 ฿47.18

-27.27%

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

$2,639 GMD 196.7K

$21.1K ฿696.0K

-87.48%

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

$3,322 GMD 247.6K

$27.1K ฿895.9K

-87.76%

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

$30.59 GMD 2,280

$64.7 ฿2,138

-52.75%

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

$14.22 GMD 1,060

$13.19 ฿435

7.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.38 GMD 3,309

$19.44 ฿642

128.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.71 GMD 1,767

$39.45 ฿1,303

-39.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.65 GMD 1,018

$3.77 ฿124

262.07%

Cinema Ticket

$3.31 GMD 247

$6.62 ฿219

-50.00%

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

$6.88 GMD 513

$805 ฿26.6K

-99.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$135 GMD 10.1K

$15.1K ฿499.3K

-99.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.1 GMD 4,185

$54.8 ฿1,808

2.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.59 GMD 3,249

$25.43 ฿840

71.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.5 GMD 7,343

$91.9 ฿3,034

7.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.7 GMD 6,609

$74.7 ฿2,465

18.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$101 GMD 7,500

$467 ฿15.4K

-78.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$79.6 GMD 5,937

$282 ฿9,310

-71.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$219 GMD 16.3K

$891 ฿29.4K

-75.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$133 GMD 9,930

$521 ฿17.2K

-74.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,471 GMD 109.7K

$1,985 ฿65.5K

-25.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,159 GMD 86.4K

$1,462 ฿48.3K

-20.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$60.6 GMD 4,520

$592 ฿19.5K

-89.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

169.30%

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

Last update for Banjul: August 18, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 17, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $101 in Banjul versus $467 in Chiang Mai. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 877% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $76.0 in Banjul versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $149 in Banjul vs $237 in Chiang Mai – so Banjul wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

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

Yes – Chiang Mai is pricier by about 39%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $996 per month in Banjul and $1,380 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Banjul, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $664 in Banjul and $920 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 749% less in Banjul. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Banjul, where all-in costs run around $664, than in Chiang Mai at $920. In Banjul it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Banjul – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Banjul. 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.