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 $1,078 in Adama, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,761 in Adama, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,443 in Adama, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 21% 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 19% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.4

$3.02 ETB 483

-32.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿626

$35.39 ETB 5,651

-47.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿263

$4.97 ETB 794

58.15%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.9

$1.25 ETB 199

62.40%

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

$0.80 ฿26.71

$0.64 ETB 102

25.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.71

$0.31 ETB 50.2

12.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.7

$0.98 ETB 157

118.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿123

$2.94 ETB 469

24.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.8

$1.38 ETB 221

25.36%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.5

$1.33 ETB 213

18.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.10

$2.15 ETB 343

-44.19%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿66.0

$2.50 ETB 399

-21.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿543

$6.94 ETB 1,109

133.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$14.03 ETB 2,241

-78.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿361

$13.32 ETB 2,128

-18.92%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.6

$6.70 ETB 1,070

-58.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.05

$1.02 ETB 163

14.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.1

$2.25 ETB 359

-24.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.3

$0.97 ETB 154

63.92%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.63

$0.68 ETB 108

104.41%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.67

$1.84 ETB 294

-36.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.11

$0.64 ETB 102

3.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.35

$0.64 ETB 102

-18.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$3.89 ETB 622

19.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿595

$5.66 ETB 903

214.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.8

$1.00 ETB 160

79.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿112

$1.82 ETB 291

83.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.35

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿624

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.17

$1.50 ETB 240

-6.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.82

$0.29 ETB 46.69

362.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿271

$1.97 ETB 315

311.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.27

$1.29 ETB 206

-4.65%

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

$21.4K ฿717.0K

$54.7K ETB 8.7M

-60.82%

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

$21.8K ฿730.0K

$53.5K ETB 8.5M

-59.18%

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

$71.3 ฿2,386

$158 ETB 25.3K

-54.94%

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

$14.01 ฿469

$12.11 ETB 1,934

15.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿600

$132 ETB 21.1K

-86.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,365

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$5.64 ETB 900

1.42%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$81.5 ETB 13.0K

278.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿491.0K

$40.5K ETB 6.5M

-63.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,865

$47.27 ETB 7,549

17.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿871

$76.1 ETB 12.2K

-65.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,837

$92.8 ETB 14.8K

-8.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,375

$116 ETB 18.6K

-38.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.2K

$494 ETB 78.9K

-14.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,110

$304 ETB 48.6K

-20.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.7K

$988 ETB 157.7K

-19.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿17.0K

$794 ETB 126.8K

-36.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿49.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

$101 ETB 16.2K

486.31%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Adama: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $494 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 486% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $35.00 in Adama. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 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, $1,078 in Adama – roughly 26% apart. Adama costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,617 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 $35.00 in Adama. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 9% 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 $1,078. 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 $1,078 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.