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: $869 in Chiang Mai versus $625 in Ado-ekiti.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,362 in Chiang Mai versus $1,216 in Ado-ekiti.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,855 in Chiang Mai versus $1,806 in Ado-ekiti.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 39% more expensive than Ado-ekiti, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 35% lower, Ado-ekiti 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$2.62 ₦3,557

-24.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$50.5 ₦68.7K

-62.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$5.45 ₦7,404

42.20%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$2.01 ₦2,736

-4.48%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$0.36 ₦495

119.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$0.18 ₦243

100.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$0.67 ₦905

229.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$1.39 ₦1,890

163.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$2.24 ₦3,043

-26.34%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$1.02 ₦1,383

59.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$2.26 ₦3,070

-47.35%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$1.78 ₦2,416

12.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$2.43 ₦3,301

557.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$3.83 ₦5,207

-20.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$4.11 ₦5,591

164.23%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$1.93 ₦2,625

43.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$2.10 ₦2,858

-43.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$0.98 ₦1,330

67.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$2.27 ₦3,081

-33.04%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$0.98 ₦1,332

40.82%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$1.94 ₦2,636

-38.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$1.01 ₦1,375

-30.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$0.38 ₦521

47.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$0.63 ₦853

626.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

$2.62 ₦3,560

532.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

$0.64 ₦868

185.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

$0.92 ₦1,257

247.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$0.49 ₦661

79.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

$65.9 ₦89.6K

-71.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$0.52 ₦703

161.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$2.25 ₦3,058

-40.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$4.71 ₦6,404

66.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$0.61 ₦826

101.64%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$20.4K ₦27.7M

5.99%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$18.9K ₦25.7M

19.28%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$40.67 ₦55.3K

73.44%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$5.97 ₦8,120

129.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$34.33 ₦46.7K

-49.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$7.84 ₦10.7K

427.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$3.03 ₦4,115

129.70%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$6.27 ₦8,528

-7.97%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$84.5 ₦114.9K

263.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$1,525 ₦2.1M

858.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$9.82 ₦13.4K

468.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$22.28 ₦30.3K

17.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$59.3 ₦80.6K

44.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$29.93 ₦40.7K

141.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$182 ₦248.0K

30.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$648 ₦881.5K

-21.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Ado-ekiti: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $19.00 in Chiang Mai vs $51.0 in Ado-ekiti. Groceries flip the comparison at $241 vs $151, 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 39% in total monthly costs ($869 vs $625 including rent). Ado-ekiti is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,303 in Chiang Mai and $937 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 60% 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 39% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.