Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Carthage and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Carthage: $693 a month against $938 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $2,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Carthage
🇹🇳 Tunisia
$693
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$938
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Carthage and in Chiang Mai

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Carthage and in Chiang Mai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $693 in Carthage versus $938 in Chiang Mai.

  • Carthage $693
  • Chiang Mai $938

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,100 in Carthage versus $1,426 in Chiang Mai.

  • Carthage $1,100
  • Chiang Mai $1,426

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,508 in Carthage versus $1,914 in Chiang Mai.

  • Carthage $1,508
  • Chiang Mai $1,914

Living in Carthage costs roughly 26% less than in Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Carthage 49% lower, Chiang Mai 30% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Carthage
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.09 TND 12.26
$2.26 ฿75.4
80.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.71 TND 68.0
$19.18 ฿641
18.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.89 TND 17.65
$5.59 ฿187
5.37%
Cappuccino
$1.15 TND 3.44
$1.72 ฿57.6
-33.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 TND 2.20
$0.64 ฿21.54
14.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29 TND 0.88
$0.33 ฿11.18
-12.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.70 TND 5.08
$2.36 ฿78.7
-27.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 TND 6.14
$3.90 ฿130
-47.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Carthage
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.49 TND 1.46
$2.05 ฿68.6
-76.10%
White Bread (500g)
$0.26 TND 0.78
$1.40 ฿46.70
-81.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.78 TND 5.33
$1.28 ฿42.89
39.06%
Eggs
$1.84 TND 5.50
$2.25 ฿75.3
-18.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.20 TND 30.56
$16.94 ฿566
-39.79%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.74 TND 17.21
$2.74 ฿91.6
109.49%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.42 TND 43.20
$9.36 ฿313
54.06%
Apples (1kg)
$1.31 TND 3.92
$2.40 ฿80.3
-45.42%
Banana (1kg)
$3.65 TND 10.93
$1.01 ฿33.92
261.39%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.17 TND 3.49
$1.61 ฿53.9
-27.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.83 TND 2.48
$1.52 ฿50.7
-45.39%
Potato (1kg)
$0.90 TND 2.70
$1.28 ฿42.90
-29.69%
Onion (1kg)
$0.69 TND 2.07
$1.11 ฿37.22
-37.84%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.53 TND 1.60
$0.72 ฿24.09
-26.39%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.34 TND 1.03
$0.52 ฿17.54
-34.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.59 TND 10.75
$4.33 ฿145
-17.09%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.62 TND 19.82
$17.73 ฿593
-62.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23 TND 3.68
$1.63 ฿54.4
-24.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.24 TND 3.72
$2.85 ฿95.3
-56.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Carthage
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.43 TND 1.30
$0.85 ฿28.31
-49.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$13.96 TND 41.82
$53.9 ฿1,801
-74.10%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.31 TND 0.92
$1.17 ฿39.18
-73.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.34 TND 1.03
$0.57 ฿19.00
-40.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.78 TND 5.34
$2.37 ฿79.2
-24.89%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.88 TND 2.63
$1.45 ฿48.32
-39.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.9K TND 119.4K
$20.5K ฿684.3K
94.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.4K TND 106.1K
$26.5K ฿886.1K
33.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Carthage
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$45.22 TND 135
$62.3 ฿2,083
-27.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.23 TND 27.63
$12.27 ฿410
-24.78%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.98 TND 62.9
$19.97 ฿668
5.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Carthage
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.18 TND 96.4
$37.91 ฿1,267
-15.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.26 TND 39.70
$3.76 ฿126
252.66%
Cinema Ticket
$5.17 TND 15.49
$6.71 ฿224
-22.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Carthage
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$104 TND 311
$797 ฿26.6K
-86.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,218 TND 9,637
$14.8K ฿495.7K
-78.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Carthage
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.72 TND 131
$53.3 ฿1,780
-17.90%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.3 TND 178
$25.05 ฿837
136.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$114 TND 340
$91.6 ฿3,062
23.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$67.7 TND 203
$73.5 ฿2,455
-7.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Carthage
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$211 TND 633
$464 ฿15.5K
-54.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$154 TND 463
$305 ฿10.2K
-49.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$209 TND 625
$915 ฿30.6K
-77.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$272 TND 815
$552 ฿18.5K
-50.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$972 TND 2,911
$1,912 ฿63.9K
-49.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$622 TND 1,862
$1,438 ฿48.1K
-56.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Carthage
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$269 TND 807
$595 ฿19.9K
-54.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.28
5.57
84.56%

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

Last update for Carthage: October 10, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Carthage
$194
Chiang Mai
$238 22.7% $44
Accommodation & Living
Carthage
$154
Chiang Mai
$305 97.3% $150
Clothing & Footwear
Carthage
$128
Chiang Mai
$110 14.4% $18
Eating Out
Carthage
$81
Chiang Mai
$79 2.4% $1.9
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Carthage
$75
Chiang Mai
$95 25.4% $19
Sport & Entertainment
Carthage
$43
Chiang Mai
$51 20.7% $8.8
Getting Around
Carthage
$18
Chiang Mai
$61 246% $44

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $211 in Carthage and $464 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chiang Mai pays 121% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $23.00 in Carthage vs $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries flip the comparison at $194 vs $238, with Carthage cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇹🇳 Carthage
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
06:20 6:20 AM
12:20 12:20 PM
6 h ahead of Carthage
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
21,276
127,240
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to TND – Tunisian Dinar Converter

Tunisian Dinar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 2.99 TND (1 TND = 0.334 USD). 1 EUR = 3.37 TND (1 TND = 0.297 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Carthage Chiang Mai 8,650 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Carthage
  • Chiang Mai

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Carthage vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Carthage and in Chiang Mai?
Carthage and Chiang Mai differ by about 35% in total monthly costs ($693 vs $938 including rent). Carthage is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 121% lower in Chiang Mai. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Carthage and in Chiang Mai?
Rent for a central apartment: $211 in Carthage versus $464 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 23% higher in Chiang Mai. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Carthage – a meal for two runs $23.00 versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $693 in Carthage versus $938 in Chiang Mai, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Carthage but tight or insufficient in Chiang Mai. The gap between the two cities makes Carthage the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Carthage and Chiang Mai?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Carthage or Chiang Mai safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Carthage and Chiang Mai are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Carthage or Chiang Mai?
Expats usually find Carthage gentler on the wallet – expenses run 35% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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