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 $631 in Ado-ekiti.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,354 in Chiang Mai versus $1,223 in Ado-ekiti.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,857 in Chiang Mai versus $1,815 in Ado-ekiti.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 35% more expensive than 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

$1.96 ฿64.0

$2.65 ₦3,647

-26.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$50.5 ₦69.6K

-62.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$5.40 ₦7,429

46.67%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$1.98 ₦2,732

-3.54%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$0.34 ₦464

147.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.16 ₦217

118.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$0.67 ₦924

229.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$1.37 ₦1,888

177.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$2.27 ₦3,127

-27.75%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$1.07 ₦1,471

51.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$2.24 ₦3,087

-47.32%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$1.70 ₦2,338

18.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$2.56 ₦3,529

520.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$3.67 ₦5,058

-17.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$3.89 ₦5,363

176.86%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$1.88 ₦2,588

38.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$2.06 ₦2,834

-40.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$0.97 ₦1,336

75.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$2.17 ₦2,990

-27.19%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$1.01 ₦1,395

30.69%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$1.96 ₦2,701

-40.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$1.02 ₦1,410

-34.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.36 ₦489

55.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$0.58 ₦799

681.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$3.16 ₦4,357

475.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$0.68 ₦930

169.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$0.88 ₦1,211

267.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$0.48 ₦662

85.42%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

$64.4 ₦88.7K

-69.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$0.48 ₦663

181.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$2.16 ₦2,977

-37.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$4.81 ₦6,627

71.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$0.61 ₦834

108.20%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$20.6K ₦28.3M

2.79%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$19.3K ₦26.5M

16.80%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$41.12 ₦56.6K

70.60%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$5.72 ₦7,874

140.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$34.73 ₦47.8K

-49.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$7.81 ₦10.8K

432.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

$3.03 ₦4,173

117.82%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$6.32 ₦8,704

-8.54%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$82.0 ₦113.0K

273.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$1,481 ₦2.0M

901.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$10.11 ₦13.9K

437.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$22.10 ₦30.4K

18.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$59.6 ₦82.0K

41.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$29.97 ₦41.3K

131.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$182 ₦250.4K

30.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$632 ₦870.5K

-18.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Ado-ekiti: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $19.00 in Chiang Mai vs $51.0 in Ado-ekiti. Groceries flip the comparison at $243 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 35% in total monthly costs ($852 vs $631 including rent). Ado-ekiti is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,278 in Chiang Mai and $946 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 62% 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 $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 35% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.