😐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 Coast6% lower, Chiang Mai31% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cape Coast
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.15GHS 92.1
$2.08฿68.6
291.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.2GHS 612
$19.64฿646
175.71%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.90GHS 123
$5.65฿186
92.92%
Cappuccino
$4.62GHS 52.2
$1.81฿59.4
155.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66GHS 18.71
$0.71฿23.45
133.80%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46GHS 5.20
$0.32฿10.38
43.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.93GHS 21.83
$2.24฿73.6
-13.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35GHS 26.51
$3.63฿119
-35.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cape Coast
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$3.68GHS 41.61
$1.96฿64.4
87.76%
White Bread(500g)
$1.71GHS 19.34
$1.50฿49.39
14.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.13GHS 35.42
$1.34฿43.93
133.58%
Eggs
$2.68GHS 30.26
$2.26฿74.5
18.58%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.24GHS 138
$16.26฿535
-24.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.60GHS 85.9
$2.95฿97.1
157.63%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.90GHS 112
$9.94฿327
-0.40%
Apples(1kg)
$3.66GHS 41.36
$2.57฿84.6
42.41%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44GHS 16.31
$1.06฿34.73
35.85%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.82GHS 20.56
$1.61฿53.0
13.04%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.67GHS 41.46
$1.52฿49.97
141.45%
Potato(1kg)
$2.77GHS 31.27
$1.27฿41.77
118.11%
Onion(1kg)
$2.85GHS 32.21
$1.07฿35.06
166.36%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.78GHS 8.87
$0.72฿23.68
8.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59GHS 6.66
$0.51฿16.72
15.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.72GHS 30.70
$4.19฿138
-35.08%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.13GHS 80.5
$17.87฿587
-60.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.30GHS 14.72
$1.69฿55.7
-23.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45GHS 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)
$1.83GHS 20.65
$1.23฿40.59
48.78%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.36GHS 15.42
$0.58฿18.96
134.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.45GHS 50.3
$2.42฿79.7
83.88%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35GHS 15.27
$1.41฿46.43
-4.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$7,970GHS 90.1K
$21.4K฿705.1K
-62.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$9,968GHS 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)
$73.7GHS 832
$63.7฿2,093
15.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.82GHS 224
$12.85฿423
54.24%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.67GHS 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
$13.40GHS 151
$6.74฿222
98.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cape Coast
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$467GHS 5,281
$778฿25.6K
-39.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.8KGHS 212.9K
$14.6K฿480.4K
28.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cape Coast
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$14.97GHS 169
$54.3฿1,785
-72.43%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.90GHS 214
$25.45฿837
-25.74%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$37.76GHS 427
$94.3฿3,102
-59.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$54.3GHS 613
$73.4฿2,415
-26.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cape Coast
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$629GHS 7,110
$490฿16.1K
28.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$595GHS 6,729
$289฿9,512
105.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,289GHS 14.6K
$894฿29.4K
44.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,147GHS 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