Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Ado-ekiti Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Ado-ekiti

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $852 in Chiang Mai versus $628 in Ado-ekiti.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,360 in Chiang Mai versus $1,198 in Ado-ekiti.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,867 in Chiang Mai versus $1,769 in Ado-ekiti.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 36% more expensive than in Ado-ekiti, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 36% lower, Ado-ekiti 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.2

$2.60 ₦3,543

-21.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿624

$49.56 ₦67.6K

-62.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿262

$5.45 ₦7,441

44.22%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.7

$2.04 ₦2,783

-0.49%

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

$0.80 ฿26.64

$0.33 ₦456

142.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.68

$0.16 ₦221

118.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.5

$0.62 ₦844

245.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿122

$1.37 ₦1,868

167.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.6

$2.32 ₦3,159

-25.43%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.4

$1.02 ₦1,386

53.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿39.99

$2.34 ₦3,195

-48.72%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿65.8

$1.71 ₦2,334

15.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿541

$2.54 ₦3,464

538.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$3.80 ₦5,187

-19.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿360

$3.91 ₦5,337

176.21%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.3

$1.85 ₦2,518

49.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.94

$2.02 ₦2,757

-42.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.0

$0.99 ₦1,346

72.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.2

$2.25 ₦3,073

-29.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.51

$0.99 ₦1,345

40.40%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.56

$1.94 ₦2,647

-40.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.05

$0.98 ₦1,336

-32.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.31

$0.35 ₦481

48.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$0.63 ₦858

638.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿593

$2.50 ₦3,414

611.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.6

$0.64 ₦874

179.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿111

$0.93 ₦1,270

259.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.27

$0.48 ₦660

89.58%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿622

$66.2 ₦90.2K

-71.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.04

$0.49 ₦668

187.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.70

$2.16 ₦2,942

-37.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿270

$4.67 ₦6,368

73.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.16

$0.64 ₦874

92.19%

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

$21.4K ฿715.1K

$20.1K ₦27.5M

6.41%

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

$21.8K ฿728.0K

$19.3K ₦26.4M

12.87%

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

$71.3 ฿2,379

$41.41 ₦56.5K

72.25%

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

$14.01 ฿467

$5.79 ₦7,896

141.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿598

$34.00 ₦46.4K

-47.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,362

$7.96 ₦10.9K

412.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

$2.97 ₦4,056

131.65%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$6.15 ₦8,395

-6.99%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$83.4 ₦113.8K

269.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.7K

$1,497 ₦2.0M

880.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,860

$9.86 ₦13.4K

465.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿869

$21.57 ₦29.4K

20.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,829

$59.0 ₦80.5K

43.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,368

$30.11 ₦41.1K

135.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,088

$182 ₦248.3K

33.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿16.9K

$642 ₦875.6K

-21.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿48.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.33

-69.38%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026

Last update for Ado-ekiti: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $19.00 in Chiang Mai vs $50.0 in Ado-ekiti. Groceries flip the comparison at $244 vs $150, with Ado-ekiti cheaper for home cooking.

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 Ado-ekiti: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai and Ado-ekiti differ by about 36% in total monthly costs ($852 vs $628 including rent). Ado-ekiti is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,279 in Chiang Mai and $942 in Ado-ekiti to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Supermarket bills run roughly 63% higher in Chiang Mai. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Ado-ekiti – a meal for two runs $50.0 versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Ado-ekiti gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Ado-ekiti are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Ado-ekiti gentler on the wallet – expenses run 36% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.