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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,105 in Accra, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,727 in Accra, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,348 in Accra, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 14% cheaper than Accra, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Accra are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Accra 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$7.99 GHS 91.3

-73.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$51.9 GHS 593

-61.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$10.73 GHS 123

-46.04%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$4.59 GHS 52.5

-60.13%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$1.62 GHS 18.53

-51.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$0.45 GHS 5.17

-31.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$1.90 GHS 21.70

23.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$2.33 GHS 26.66

58.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$3.68 GHS 42.03

-44.84%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$1.72 GHS 19.62

-6.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$3.17 GHS 36.18

-55.21%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$2.70 GHS 30.80

-19.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$12.24 GHS 140

29.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$7.54 GHS 86.1

-59.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$10.04 GHS 115

-1.69%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$3.75 GHS 42.87

-29.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$1.43 GHS 16.29

-23.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$1.80 GHS 20.59

-9.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$3.59 GHS 41.01

-57.38%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$2.72 GHS 31.01

-54.41%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$2.76 GHS 31.48

-59.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

$0.73 GHS 8.34

1.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$0.63 GHS 7.15

-20.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$2.61 GHS 29.77

63.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

$7.32 GHS 83.5

145.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

$1.30 GHS 14.81

30.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

$2.43 GHS 27.77

19.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

$1.58 GHS 18.01

-40.51%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

$42.03 GHS 480

31.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$1.78 GHS 20.38

-30.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

$1.34 GHS 15.31

-60.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

$4.52 GHS 51.7

-46.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$1.38 GHS 15.76

4.35%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

$7,902 GHS 90.2K

168.20%

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

$10.2K GHS 116.1K

168.48%

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$75.8 GHS 865

-14.28%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$19.38 GHS 221

-31.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$44.26 GHS 506

-52.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

$73.0 GHS 833

-44.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

$18.49 GHS 211

-78.64%

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$13.00 GHS 148

-48.38%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$468 GHS 5,344

68.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

$18.4K GHS 210.6K

-18.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$14.45 GHS 165

289.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$18.99 GHS 217

31.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$37.24 GHS 425

148.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$54.6 GHS 623

37.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$693 GHS 7,909

-30.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

$278 GHS 3,180

3.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

$1,104 GHS 12.6K

-17.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$475 GHS 5,419

11.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

$2,888 GHS 33.0K

-31.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

$1,474 GHS 16.8K

-1.54%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

$181 GHS 2,068

234.31%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

26.75

-79.18%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Accra: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $693 in Accra. 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 234% higher in Chiang Mai, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $52.0 in Accra. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $285 – 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $950 in Chiang Mai, $1,105 in Accra – roughly 16% apart. Accra costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,658 in Accra. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Groceries cost about 17% more in Accra, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $52.0 in Accra. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $950, than in Accra at $1,105. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Accra it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $950 in Chiang Mai to $1,105 in Accra. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Accra makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.