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

🙂 Solo nomad: Buea is 32.6% cheaper than Chiang Mai without rent, and 36.2% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Buea is 29.5% cheaper than Chiang Mai without rent, and 41.7% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Buea
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.81 FCFA 1,024
$2.02 ฿65.3
-10.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$18.78 ฿608
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.26 FCFA 3,541
$7.67 ฿248
-18.38%
Cappuccino
$2.14 FCFA 1,212
$1.98 ฿64.2
8.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.22 FCFA 688
$0.82 ฿26.64
48.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 FCFA 277
$0.33 ฿10.58
48.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.04 FCFA 586
$2.12 ฿68.6
-50.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44 FCFA 816
$3.73 ฿121
-61.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Buea
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.13 FCFA 1,772
$1.64 ฿53.2
90.85%
White Bread (500g)
$0.39 FCFA 220
$1.57 ฿50.9
-75.16%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.6 FCFA 906
$1.19 ฿38.62
34.45%
Eggs
$2.7 FCFA 1,528
$1.98 ฿64.1
36.36%
Local Cheese (1kg)
-
$15.99 ฿517
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
-
$3.12 ฿101
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.49 FCFA 2,541
$11.16 ฿361
-59.77%
Apples (1kg)
$3.62 FCFA 2,049
$2.76 ฿89.2
31.16%
Banana (1kg)
$1.39 FCFA 786
$1.22 ฿39.5
13.93%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.86 FCFA 485
$1.71 ฿55.4
-49.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.43 FCFA 812
$1.55 ฿50.2
-7.74%
Potato (1kg)
$1.81 FCFA 1,024
$1.34 ฿43.21
35.07%
Onion (1kg)
$1.37 FCFA 775
$1.21 ฿39.23
13.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$0.72 ฿23.2
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.69 FCFA 388
$0.53 ฿17.05
30.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.72 ฿153
-
Wine (Bottle)
$8.38 FCFA 4,744
$18.39 ฿595
-54.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.21 FCFA 684
$1.79 ฿57.9
-32.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 FCFA 984
$3.21 ฿104
-45.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Buea
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.94 ฿30.44
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$18.9 ฿612
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.25 FCFA 140
$1.42 ฿46.08
-82.39%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.49 FCFA 279
$1.35 ฿43.53
-63.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.26 FCFA 2,976
$7.85 ฿254
-32.99%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 FCFA 698
$1.25 ฿40.4
-1.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.3K FCFA 10.9M
$21.2K ฿684.9K
-8.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.8K FCFA 11.8M
$21.8K ฿706.8K
-4.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Buea
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.6 FCFA 35.4K
$70.6 ฿2,285
-11.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.89 FCFA 10.1K
$13.72 ฿444
30.39%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$109 FCFA 61.5K
$17.56 ฿568
518.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Buea
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.99 FCFA 14.7K
$41.64 ฿1,347
-37.58%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.44 FCFA 2,511
$6.9 ฿223
-35.65%
Cinema Ticket
-
$5.8 ฿188
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Buea
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$624 FCFA 353.5K
$308 ฿9,963
102.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$14.7K ฿475.8K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Buea
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.17 FCFA 19.9K
$55.4 ฿1,793
-36.52%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$26.4 ฿854
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$85.1 ฿2,755
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.2 FCFA 39.7K
$71.8 ฿2,323
-2.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Buea
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$71 FCFA 40.2K
$434 ฿14K
-83.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$61 FCFA 34.5K
$235 ฿7,610
-74.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$821 ฿26.6K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$211 FCFA 119.3K
$498 ฿16.1K
-57.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,180 ฿70.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,543 ฿49.9K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Buea
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$133 FCFA 75.1K
$703 ฿22.8K
-81.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
5
-

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

Last update for Buea: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

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