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

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $817 per month in Calabar vs $906 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,137 per month in Calabar vs $1,385 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,456 per month in Calabar vs $1,864 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Calabar is about 10% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Calabar and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Calabar 39% lower, Chiang Mai 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.13 ₦1,493

$2.13 ฿71.6

-46.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.40 ฿651

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.47 ฿184

Cappuccino

$1.68 ฿56.6

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

$0.37 ₦484

$0.66 ฿22.17

-43.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 ₦245

$0.34 ฿11.55

-47.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.94 ₦1,240

$2.42 ฿81.3

-61.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.24 ₦1,636

$3.73 ฿125

-66.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.06 ฿69.1

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 ₦1,756

$1.46 ฿48.93

-8.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.54 ₦2,043

$1.35 ฿45.22

14.07%

Eggs

$2.27 ฿76.2

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.31 ฿548

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.70 ฿90.6

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.20 ฿309

Apples (1kg)

$2.39 ฿80.4

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 ฿34.76

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 ฿53.9

Tomato (1kg)

$1.44 ฿48.51

Potato (1kg)

$1.30 ฿43.72

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 ฿37.40

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿23.62

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.47 ₦626

$0.51 ฿17.04

-7.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.13 ฿139

Wine (Bottle)

$4.57 ₦6,048

$17.78 ฿597

-74.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 ₦1,494

$1.63 ฿54.9

-30.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₦1,977

$2.87 ฿96.3

-48.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 ฿28.84

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.2 ฿1,785

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.22 ฿40.94

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.56 ฿18.87

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.31 ฿77.7

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.50 ฿50.3

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

$20.9K ฿700.4K

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

$26.7K ฿897.7K

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

$61.3 ฿2,057

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

$12.50 ฿420

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.36 ฿684

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.94 ฿1,274

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿126

Cinema Ticket

$6.60 ฿222

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

$774 ฿26.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.4K ฿484.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.8 ฿1,840

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.26 ฿848

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.6 ฿3,041

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.3 ฿2,460

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,114 ₦1.5M

$459 ฿15.4K

142.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$754 ₦998.3K

$294 ฿9,865

156.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,898 ₦2.5M

$919 ฿30.9K

106.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,367 ₦1.8M

$552 ฿18.5K

147.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,917 ฿64.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,445 ฿48.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$592 ฿19.9K

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 Calabar: October 3, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,114 in Calabar versus $459 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.

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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $817 in Calabar, $906 in Chiang Mai – roughly 11% apart. Chiang Mai costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,226 per month in Calabar and $1,359 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Calabar, 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 $817 in Calabar and $906 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 451% 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.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Calabar, where all-in costs run around $817, than in Chiang Mai at $906. In Calabar 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 $817 in Calabar to $906 in Chiang Mai. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Calabar. 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.