Cost of Living Comparison Between Cape Coast and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Cape Coast and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,292 per month in Cape Coast vs $947 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,044 per month in Cape Coast vs $1,411 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,797 per month in Cape Coast vs $1,874 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Cape Coast costs about 36% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Cape Coast and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Cape Coast 6% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cape Coast
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.15 GHS 92.1
$2.08 ฿68.6
291.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.2 GHS 612
$19.64 ฿646
175.71%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.90 GHS 123
$5.65 ฿186
92.92%
Cappuccino
$4.62 GHS 52.2
$1.81 ฿59.4
155.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66 GHS 18.71
$0.71 ฿23.45
133.80%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 GHS 5.20
$0.32 ฿10.38
43.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.93 GHS 21.83
$2.24 ฿73.6
-13.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35 GHS 26.51
$3.63 ฿119
-35.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cape Coast
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.68 GHS 41.61
$1.96 ฿64.4
87.76%
White Bread (500g)
$1.71 GHS 19.34
$1.50 ฿49.39
14.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.13 GHS 35.42
$1.34 ฿43.93
133.58%
Eggs
$2.68 GHS 30.26
$2.26 ฿74.5
18.58%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.24 GHS 138
$16.26 ฿535
-24.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.60 GHS 85.9
$2.95 ฿97.1
157.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.90 GHS 112
$9.94 ฿327
-0.40%
Apples (1kg)
$3.66 GHS 41.36
$2.57 ฿84.6
42.41%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 GHS 16.31
$1.06 ฿34.73
35.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.82 GHS 20.56
$1.61 ฿53.0
13.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.67 GHS 41.46
$1.52 ฿49.97
141.45%
Potato (1kg)
$2.77 GHS 31.27
$1.27 ฿41.77
118.11%
Onion (1kg)
$2.85 GHS 32.21
$1.07 ฿35.06
166.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.78 GHS 8.87
$0.72 ฿23.68
8.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59 GHS 6.66
$0.51 ฿16.72
15.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.72 GHS 30.70
$4.19 ฿138
-35.08%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.13 GHS 80.5
$17.87 ฿587
-60.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.30 GHS 14.72
$1.69 ฿55.7
-23.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45 GHS 27.65
$2.84 ฿93.3
-13.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Cape Coast
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.93 ฿30.43
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$53.9 ฿1,771
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.83 GHS 20.65
$1.23 ฿40.59
48.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.36 GHS 15.42
$0.58 ฿18.96
134.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.45 GHS 50.3
$2.42 ฿79.7
83.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 GHS 15.27
$1.41 ฿46.43
-4.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$7,970 GHS 90.1K
$21.4K ฿705.1K
-62.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$9,968 GHS 112.6K
$27.3K ฿898.7K
-63.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cape Coast
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.7 GHS 832
$63.7 ฿2,093
15.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.82 GHS 224
$12.85 ฿423
54.24%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.67 GHS 505
$20.22 ฿665
120.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cape Coast
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$38.74 ฿1,274
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.97 ฿130
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.40 GHS 151
$6.74 ฿222
98.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cape Coast
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$467 GHS 5,281
$778 ฿25.6K
-39.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.8K GHS 212.9K
$14.6K ฿480.4K
28.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cape Coast
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$14.97 GHS 169
$54.3 ฿1,785
-72.43%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.90 GHS 214
$25.45 ฿837
-25.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$37.76 GHS 427
$94.3 ฿3,102
-59.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$54.3 GHS 613
$73.4 ฿2,415
-26.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cape Coast
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$629 GHS 7,110
$490 ฿16.1K
28.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$595 GHS 6,729
$289 ฿9,512
105.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,289 GHS 14.6K
$894 ฿29.4K
44.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,147 GHS 13.0K
$517 ฿17.0K
121.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,955 ฿64.3K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,477 ฿48.6K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cape Coast
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$602 ฿19.8K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
26.75
5.57
380.25%

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

Last update for Cape Coast: August 29, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $629 in Cape Coast versus $490 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $54.0 in Cape Coast versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $284 vs $240 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Cape Coast vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chiang Mai cheaper than Cape Coast?
Yes – Cape Coast is pricier by about 36%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,937 per month in Cape Coast and $1,421 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Cape Coast and in Chiang Mai?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,292 in Cape Coast and $947 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $467 per month in Cape Coast and $778 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Cape Coast or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $947, than in Cape Coast at $1,292. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cape Coast it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Cape Coast or Chiang Mai more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Chiang Mai – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Cape Coast or Chiang Mai?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Cape Coast makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Cape Coast vs other spots: cost of living compared

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