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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,114 in Adama, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,756 in Adama, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,399 in Adama, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 24% cheaper than Adama, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Chiang Mai and Adama are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Adama 17% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿63.3

$3.05 ETB 475

-35.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿608

$35.58 ETB 5,541

-47.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿256

$5.04 ETB 785

57.14%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿61.9

$1.28 ETB 200

49.22%

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

$0.84 ฿27.11

$0.67 ETB 104

25.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.38

$0.31 ETB 48.49

12.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿71.3

$1.01 ETB 158

118.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿123

$2.96 ETB 462

28.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿52.9

$1.46 ETB 227

12.33%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿52.5

$1.27 ETB 199

27.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.20

$2.12 ETB 331

-44.34%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.1

$2.52 ETB 392

-20.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿514

$7.27 ETB 1,133

118.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿97.4

$13.73 ETB 2,138

-78.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿348

$13.38 ETB 2,084

-19.51%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿84.5

$6.79 ETB 1,057

-61.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.44

$1.02 ETB 159

19.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.1

$2.23 ETB 348

-23.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.0

$0.92 ETB 144

71.74%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿42.67

$0.63 ETB 97.8

109.52%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿37.81

$1.91 ETB 297

-38.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.74

$0.70 ETB 109

-4.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.11

$0.63 ETB 98.2

-11.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿147

$3.92 ETB 611

15.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿589

$5.74 ETB 893

217.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.3

$1.04 ETB 162

75.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿104

$1.82 ETB 283

77.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿28.68

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿627

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿43.72

$1.45 ETB 225

-6.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿43.56

$0.29 ETB 45.75

365.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿267

$2.03 ETB 316

306.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.18

$1.30 ETB 202

-2.31%

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

$21.2K ฿684.2K

$54.4K ETB 8.5M

-61.13%

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

$22.5K ฿727.2K

$54.8K ETB 8.5M

-58.97%

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

$70.2 ฿2,269

$162 ETB 25.2K

-56.73%

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

$13.77 ฿445

$12.16 ETB 1,893

13.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿569

$133 ETB 20.7K

-86.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,345

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿213

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿187

$5.87 ETB 914

-1.53%

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

$306 ฿9,901

$79.7 ETB 12.4K

284.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿479.4K

$39.9K ETB 6.2M

-62.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,758

$48.05 ETB 7,483

13.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿845

$74.0 ETB 11.5K

-64.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,734

$94.1 ETB 14.7K

-10.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,245

$116 ETB 18.0K

-39.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.7K

$496 ETB 77.3K

-14.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,703

$304 ETB 47.3K

-21.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿26.7K

$982 ETB 153.0K

-16.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.7K

$813 ETB 126.7K

-36.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿66.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.5K

$102 ETB 15.8K

524.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-70.59%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Last update for Adama: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $496 in Adama. 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 524% 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 $19 in Chiang Mai versus $36 in Adama. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $266 – 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 Adama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $852 in Chiang Mai, $1,114 in Adama – roughly 31% apart. Adama costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,671 in Adama. 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $36.00 in Adama. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 10% more in Adama, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $852, than in Adama at $1,114. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Adama 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 $852 in Chiang Mai to $1,114 in Adama. 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, Adama makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.