Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Aba

For one person, living is cheaper in Aba: $402 a month against $936 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $6,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half 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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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$936

/mo nomad

Aba

🇳🇬 Nigeria

$402

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $402 in Aba, rent included.

Chiang Mai $936
Aba $402

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $653 in Aba, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,457
Aba $653

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $904 in Aba, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,979
Aba $904

Chiang Mai costs about 133% more than Aba, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.24 ฿75.7

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.00 ฿642

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.55 ฿188

$7.21 ₦9,667

-23.02%

Cappuccino

$1.67 ฿56.6

$0.87 ₦1,172

91.95%

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

$0.64 ฿21.56

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.32

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 ฿79.6

$2.07 ₦2,770

14.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿124

$2.42 ₦3,243

51.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ฿65.8

$3.71 ₦4,968

-47.44%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ฿48.51

$2.21 ₦2,960

-34.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 ฿45.07

Eggs

$2.28 ฿77.1

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.45 ฿556

$11.26 ₦15.1K

46.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.78 ฿94.0

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.31 ฿314

$1.27 ₦1,700

633.07%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 ฿79.5

$5.14 ₦6,889

-54.28%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 ฿32.82

$0.55 ₦735

76.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 ฿53.9

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.7

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿43.15

$3.44 ₦4,614

-62.79%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿37.22

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿23.84

$1.15 ₦1,541

-38.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.38

$0.16 ₦209

206.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 ฿140

$1.45 ₦1,947

185.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.52 ฿592

$7.18 ₦9,628

144.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 ฿54.5

$1.24 ₦1,657

29.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿94.0

$1.43 ₦1,922

94.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ฿29.33

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.1 ฿1,827

$9.28 ₦12.4K

482.87%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 ฿39.08

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.82

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿81.8

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.93

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

$21.1K ฿711.2K

$6,017 ₦8.1M

249.98%

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

$26.9K ฿909.8K

$7,453 ₦10.0M

261.47%

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

$62.2 ฿2,100

$113 ₦151.4K

-44.96%

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

$12.17 ฿411

$2.19 ₦2,941

455.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ฿680

$44.64 ₦59.8K

-54.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.31 ฿1,260

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿127

Cinema Ticket

$6.49 ฿219

$2.13 ₦2,861

204.69%

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

$736 ฿24.9K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿498.6K

$1,047 ₦1.4M

1309.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 ฿1,802

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.64 ฿832

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.5 ฿3,089

$15.04 ₦20.2K

508.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.9 ฿2,429

$18.61 ₦24.9K

286.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.3K

$136 ₦181.8K

255.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 ฿10.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 ฿34.0K

$443 ₦594.3K

126.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$633 ฿21.4K

$221 ₦296.8K

186.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,363 ฿79.8K

$1,057 ₦1.4M

123.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,589 ฿53.7K

$461 ₦618.2K

244.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$590 ฿19.9K

$95.0 ₦127.3K

520.90%

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: October 26, 2026

Last update for Aba: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$309 33%

Aba

–

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$234 25.1%

Aba

–

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$109 11.6%

Aba

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Aba

–

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$78 8.3%

Aba

–

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Aba

–

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Aba

–

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Chiang Mai versus $136 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 in Chiang Mai are about 6.2 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇳🇬 Aba

🕒 Local time

05:07 5:07 AM

23:07 11:07 PM

6 h behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

1,020,900

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Nigerian Naira NGN ₦

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

10,000 NGN = 7.46 USD

10,000 NGN = 6.7 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

NGN, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 33.77 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.59 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Nigerian Naira exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 1,340 NGN (10,000 NGN = 7.46 USD). 1 EUR = 1,492 NGN (10,000 NGN = 6.7 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Chiang Mai Aba 9,990 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Aba

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

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

Yes – Chiang Mai is pricier by about 133%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in clothing.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $603 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $136 there versus $482 in Chiang Mai.

Groceries cost about 41% more in Chiang Mai, though the gap depends on what you buy.

Public transport costs about 83% less in Aba. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $402 in Aba to $936 in Chiang Mai. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Aba. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.