Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between the Central African Republic and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in the Central African Republic: $418 a month against $906 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $5,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

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Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index

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🇨🇫 Central African Republic

$418

/mo nomad

Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$906

/mo nomad

🙂 Solo nomad: The Central African Republic is 25.7% cheaper than Chiang Mai without rent, and 53.9% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: The Central African Republic is 20.1% cheaper than Chiang Mai without rent, and 50.2% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.13 ฿71.4

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.40 ฿649

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.47 ฿183

Cappuccino

$1.68 ฿56.4

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

$0.66 ฿22.10

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.76 FCFA 1,029

$0.34 ฿11.52

417.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.50 FCFA 2,050

$2.42 ฿81.0

44.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.01 FCFA 2,932

$3.73 ฿125

34.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$5.18 FCFA 3,031

$2.06 ฿68.9

151.46%

White Bread (500g)

$4.36 FCFA 2,550

$1.46 ฿48.78

198.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.17 FCFA 2,437

$1.35 ฿45.09

208.89%

Eggs

$5.09 FCFA 2,975

$2.27 ฿76.0

124.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.46 FCFA 4,948

$16.31 ฿546

-48.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.68 FCFA 5,079

$2.70 ฿90.3

221.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.52 FCFA 2,059

$9.20 ฿308

-61.74%

Apples (1kg)

$2.39 ฿80.1

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 ฿34.66

Oranges (1kg)

$7.02 FCFA 4,109

$1.60 ฿53.7

338.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.24 FCFA 3,065

$1.44 ฿48.37

263.89%

Potato (1kg)

$4.37 FCFA 2,554

$1.30 ฿43.59

236.15%

Onion (1kg)

$6.00 FCFA 3,511

$1.11 ฿37.29

440.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.55 FCFA 1,495

$0.70 ฿23.55

264.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.60 FCFA 1,519

$0.51 ฿16.99

409.80%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.18 FCFA 2,446

$4.13 ฿138

1.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.60 FCFA 6,788

$17.78 ฿595

-34.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.87 FCFA 3,435

$1.63 ฿54.7

260.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.34 FCFA 2,537

$2.87 ฿96.0

51.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 ฿28.76

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.2 ฿1,780

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.22 ฿40.81

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.56 ฿18.81

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.31 ฿77.5

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.52 FCFA 1,474

$1.50 ฿50.2

68.00%

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

$20.9K ฿698.3K

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

$26.7K ฿895.0K

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

$61.3 ฿2,051

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

$12.50 ฿419

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.36 ฿682

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.94 ฿1,270

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿126

Cinema Ticket

$6.60 ฿221

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

$774 ฿25.9K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.4K ฿483.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.8 ฿1,835

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.26 ฿846

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.6 ฿3,032

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.3 ฿2,453

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,387 FCFA 811.4K

$459 ฿15.4K

202.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$294 ฿9,835

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$919 ฿30.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$552 ฿18.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,389 FCFA 812.7K

$1,917 ฿64.2K

-27.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,656 FCFA 968.8K

$1,445 ฿48.4K

14.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$841 FCFA 492.1K

$592 ฿19.8K

41.99%

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 the Central African Republic: October 4, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Central African Republic

–

Chiang Mai

$294 31.8%

Groceries & Markets

Central African Republic

–

Chiang Mai

$236 25.6%

Clothing & Footwear

Central African Republic

–

Chiang Mai

$110 11.9%

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Central African Republic

–

Chiang Mai

$94 10.2%

Eating Out

Central African Republic

–

Chiang Mai

$77 8.4%

Getting Around

Central African Republic

–

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Sport & Entertainment

Central African Republic

–

Chiang Mai

$51 5.5%

Good to know

🇨🇫 Central African Republic

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🕒 Local time

13:06 1:06 PM

19:06 7:06 PM

6 h ahead of the Central African Republic

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

5,152,421

127,240

💱 Currency

Central African CFA Franc XAF Fr

Thai Baht THB ฿

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 XAF = 1.71 USD

1,000 XAF = 1.53 EUR

100 THB = 2.99 USD

100 THB = 2.67 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to XAF – Central African CFA Franc Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🌐 Central African CFA Franc (Fr)

Central African CFA Franc exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 585 XAF (1,000 XAF = 1.71 USD). 1 EUR = 656 XAF (1,000 XAF = 1.53 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 33.48 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.52 THB (100 THB = 2.67 EUR).

USD to XAF in detail →

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