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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $411 in Aba, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $662 in Aba, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $912 in Aba, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 131% more than Aba, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chiang Mai and Aba are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Aba 70% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$7.68 ₦10.2K

-24.61%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$0.87 ₦1,159

110.34%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$2.07 ₦2,740

13.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$2.40 ₦3,187

54.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$3.80 ₦5,035

-46.58%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$2.22 ₦2,941

-27.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$11.55 ₦15.3K

37.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$1.34 ₦1,771

636.57%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$5.43 ₦7,199

-51.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$0.56 ₦738

96.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$3.54 ₦4,696

-64.97%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

$1.13 ₦1,492

-34.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$0.15 ₦204

233.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$1.55 ₦2,060

176.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

$7.27 ₦9,630

147.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

$1.28 ₦1,691

32.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

$1.40 ₦1,861

107.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

$9.35 ₦12.4K

491.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

$6,033 ₦8.0M

251.29%

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

$7,467 ₦9.9M

265.65%

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$117 ₦154.5K

-44.29%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$2.22 ₦2,944

501.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$45.54 ₦60.4K

-54.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$2.13 ₦2,827

215.02%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

$1,073 ₦1.4M

1309.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$15.33 ₦20.3K

504.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$18.73 ₦24.8K

301.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$138 ₦183.5K

249.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

$456 ₦603.8K

99.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$226 ₦299.0K

135.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

$1,077 ₦1.4M

83.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

$474 ₦628.6K

205.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

$99.0 ₦131.2K

511.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-53.58%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Aba: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $138 in Aba. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 511% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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

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

Yes – Chiang Mai is pricier by about 131%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $617 in Aba. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Aba, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 43% 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.

Public transport costs about 491% less in Aba. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Aba, where all-in costs run around $411, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Aba it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Aba – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Aba. 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.