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: $932 in Chiang Mai versus $703 in Ado-ekiti.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,399 in Chiang Mai versus $1,264 in Ado-ekiti.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,866 in Chiang Mai versus $1,826 in Ado-ekiti.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 33% more expensive than in Ado-ekiti, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 32% lower, Ado-ekiti 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.3

$2.94 ₦3,904

-29.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿653

$50.7 ₦67.3K

-61.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$7.59 ₦10.1K

-25.30%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.1

$1.96 ₦2,600

-7.65%

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

$0.77 ฿25.58

$0.45 ₦597

71.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.49

$0.18 ₦239

94.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.7

$0.63 ₦832

250.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

$1.96 ₦2,606

93.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.2

$3.22 ₦4,279

-36.34%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

$1.06 ₦1,412

42.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.57

$1.26 ₦1,677

11.11%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.2

$2.27 ₦3,012

-0.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿539

$2.48 ₦3,292

552.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.4

$3.76 ₦4,999

-22.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$4.07 ₦5,401

131.45%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.2

$1.67 ₦2,214

60.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.28

$1.31 ₦1,736

-16.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

$0.97 ₦1,290

67.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.61

$1.34 ₦1,774

8.96%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.54

$1.03 ₦1,363

24.27%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.21

$1.31 ₦1,745

-19.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.88

$0.85 ₦1,131

-15.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.51

$0.37 ₦488

43.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$0.58 ₦776

629.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿609

$2.59 ₦3,437

606.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.3

$0.54 ₦711

201.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.6

$0.50 ₦666

480.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.24

$0.97 ₦1,293

-9.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,790

$66.1 ₦87.8K

-18.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.04

$0.52 ₦685

125.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.25

$0.91 ₦1,206

-36.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.4

$2.21 ₦2,933

8.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.28

$0.65 ₦867

123.08%

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

$21.0K ฿699.5K

$11.5K ₦15.3M

82.84%

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

$26.4K ฿879.7K

$13.9K ₦18.5M

89.69%

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

$63.7 ฿2,119

$113 ₦150.7K

-43.91%

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

$12.89 ฿429

$6.05 ₦8,043

113.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿683

$32.31 ₦42.9K

-36.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,299

$7.90 ₦10.5K

393.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

$2.98 ₦3,960

31.54%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$4.71 ₦6,253

39.70%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

$671 ₦890.9K

16.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿488.4K

$1,482 ₦2.0M

889.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,835

$10.17 ₦13.5K

441.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿824

$18.46 ₦24.5K

34.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,133

$36.22 ₦48.1K

159.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,462

$30.58 ₦40.6K

141.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,594

$179 ₦237.9K

60.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

$644 ₦855.7K

-19.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

18.05

-69.14%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Ado-ekiti: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $20.00 in Chiang Mai vs $51.0 in Ado-ekiti. Groceries flip the comparison at $241 vs $145, 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 33% in total monthly costs ($932 vs $703 including rent). Ado-ekiti is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,398 in Chiang Mai and $1,054 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 67% 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 $51.0 versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $703 in Ado-ekiti versus $932 in Chiang Mai, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Ado-ekiti but tight or insufficient in Chiang Mai. The gap between the two cities makes Ado-ekiti the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 33% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.