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 $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,113 in Adama, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,782 in Adama, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,451 in Adama, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 22% cheaper than Adama, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Chiang Mai and Adama are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Adama 17% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.6

$3.03 ETB 480

-34.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿615

$34.50 ETB 5,468

-45.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿253

$5.10 ETB 808

51.96%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.7

$1.27 ETB 202

51.18%

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

$0.79 ฿25.87

$0.69 ETB 109

14.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.66

$0.31 ETB 49.29

16.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.3

$0.99 ETB 156

123.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿120

$3.02 ETB 478

21.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿54.0

$1.45 ETB 231

13.79%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.3

$1.35 ETB 214

20.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.99

$2.12 ETB 336

-43.87%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.3

$2.41 ETB 382

-17.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿522

$7.22 ETB 1,145

121.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.9

$14.10 ETB 2,235

-78.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿355

$13.43 ETB 2,129

-19.14%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.3

$6.75 ETB 1,070

-59.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.55

$0.96 ETB 152

22.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.7

$2.19 ETB 347

-25.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.68

$0.98 ETB 156

55.10%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.25

$0.67 ETB 107

105.97%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.97

$1.89 ETB 300

-37.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.94

$0.69 ETB 109

1.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.19

$0.63 ETB 99.8

-11.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿150

$3.93 ETB 623

16.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿541

$5.53 ETB 876

199.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.7

$1.04 ETB 165

75.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿105

$1.89 ETB 300

69.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.66

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿612

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.31

$1.44 ETB 228

-5.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.80

$0.29 ETB 46.09

362.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$2.05 ETB 324

282.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿40.06

$1.29 ETB 205

-4.65%

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

$21.6K ฿706.7K

$54.7K ETB 8.7M

-60.44%

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

$22.5K ฿736.8K

$54.7K ETB 8.7M

-58.81%

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

$70.5 ฿2,305

$162 ETB 25.6K

-56.37%

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

$13.68 ฿447

$11.84 ETB 1,877

15.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿570

$129 ETB 20.4K

-86.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,351

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿228

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿189

$5.63 ETB 893

2.49%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$80.5 ETB 12.8K

281.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿477.5K

$40.5K ETB 6.4M

-63.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,823

$46.44 ETB 7,361

20.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿856

$75.1 ETB 11.9K

-65.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,802

$92.3 ETB 14.6K

-7.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,361

$112 ETB 17.8K

-35.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$509 ETB 80.6K

-15.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,800

$302 ETB 47.9K

-20.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.7K

$1,005 ETB 159.3K

-18.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.7K

$791 ETB 125.4K

-35.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

$101 ETB 15.9K

515.68%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Adama: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $509 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 516% 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 $34.00 in Adama. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $268 – 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: $869 in Chiang Mai, $1,113 in Adama – roughly 28% apart. Adama costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,670 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 $34.00 in Adama. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 11% 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 $869, than in Adama at $1,113. 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 $869 in Chiang Mai to $1,113 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.