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 $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,009 in Adama, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,695 in Adama, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,381 in Adama, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 6% cheaper than Adama, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Chiang Mai and Adama are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Adama 27% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$3.02 ETB 486

-30.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$41.82 ETB 6,722

-52.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$5.07 ETB 815

14.20%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$0.90 ETB 145

103.33%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$0.58 ETB 93.2

34.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$0.29 ETB 46.06

6.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$0.78 ETB 125

200.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$2.27 ETB 365

63.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$0.82 ETB 132

147.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$1.22 ETB 197

31.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$2.19 ETB 351

-35.16%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$1.79 ETB 288

21.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$7.53 ETB 1,211

111.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$10.24 ETB 1,646

-70.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$9.34 ETB 1,502

5.67%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$5.49 ETB 882

-52.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$0.68 ETB 109

61.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$2.24 ETB 360

-27.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$0.71 ETB 114

115.49%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$0.46 ETB 73.6

169.57%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$1.09 ETB 175

3.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

$0.69 ETB 110

7.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$0.57 ETB 92.1

-12.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$8.05 ETB 1,294

-46.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

$5.73 ETB 921

213.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

$0.70 ETB 113

142.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

$1.26 ETB 203

130.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$1.29 ETB 208

-4.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

$0.27 ETB 43.18

96.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

$1.94 ETB 312

23.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$0.94 ETB 151

53.19%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

$54.0K ETB 8.7M

-60.78%

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

$54.7K ETB 8.8M

-50.09%

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$203 ETB 32.6K

-68.01%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$7.20 ETB 1,158

85.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$212 ETB 34.0K

-90.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$3.70 ETB 595

81.35%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$138 ETB 22.2K

468.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

$30.8K ETB 4.9M

-50.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$33.04 ETB 5,312

70.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$71.0 ETB 11.4K

-64.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$78.8 ETB 12.7K

17.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$82.9 ETB 13.3K

-9.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$350 ETB 56.3K

38.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

$202 ETB 32.4K

42.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

$985 ETB 158.4K

-7.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$785 ETB 126.2K

-32.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

$102 ETB 16.3K

495.97%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

18.5

-69.89%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Adama: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $350 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 496% 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 $42.00 in Adama. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $213 in Adama – so Adama wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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: $950 in Chiang Mai, $1,009 in Adama – roughly 6% apart. Adama costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,513 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $42.00 in Adama. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 14% cheaper in Adama – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $950, than in Adama at $1,009. 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 $950 in Chiang Mai to $1,009 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.