Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Afghanistan
For one person, living is cheaper in Afghanistan: $551 a month against $906 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $4,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
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Chiang Mai Living Index45Cost of Living Index in Chiang MaiLearn more -
Afghanistan Living Index27Cost of Living Index in AfghanistanLearn more
😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 35.9% more expensive than Afghanistan without rent, and 64.3% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 71.6% more expensive than Afghanistan without rent, and 100.4% more expensive with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Afghanistan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.13 ฿71.4
$2.35 ؋152
-9.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.40 ฿649
$10.67 ؋691
81.82%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.47 ฿183
$3.86 ؋250
41.71%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.11 ؋137
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Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$7.74 ؋501
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Cappuccino
$1.68 ฿56.4
$1.02 ؋66.4
64.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66 ฿22.10
$0.45 ؋28.93
46.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 ฿11.52
$0.19 ؋12.01
78.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.42 ฿81.0
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Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿125
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🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Afghanistan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.06 ฿68.9
$0.79 ؋51.3
160.76%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 ฿48.78
$0.28 ؋18.17
421.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.35 ฿45.09
$1.94 ؋126
-30.41%
Eggs
$2.27 ฿76.0
$1.59 ؋103
42.77%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.31 ฿546
$4.73 ؋306
244.82%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.70 ฿90.3
$3.85 ؋249
-29.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.20 ฿308
$6.72 ؋435
36.90%
Apples (1kg)
$2.39 ฿80.1
$0.69 ؋44.50
246.38%
Banana (1kg)
$1.04 ฿34.66
$0.93 ؋60.0
11.83%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 ฿53.7
$1.03 ؋66.5
55.34%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.44 ฿48.37
$0.53 ؋34.53
171.70%
Potato (1kg)
$1.30 ฿43.59
$0.55 ؋35.89
136.36%
Onion (1kg)
$1.11 ฿37.29
$0.41 ؋26.32
170.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.70 ฿23.55
$0.40 ؋25.72
75.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.99
$0.34 ؋22.25
50.00%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$1.82 ؋118
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.74 ؋47.89
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.02 ؋66.3
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.13 ฿138
$2.29 ؋148
80.35%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.78 ฿595
-
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Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 ฿54.7
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 ฿96.0
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🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Afghanistan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 ฿28.76
$0.30 ؋19.34
186.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.2 ฿1,780
$14.43 ؋934
268.33%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.22 ฿40.81
$1.49 ؋96.8
-18.12%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.56 ฿18.81
$0.48 ؋31.04
16.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.31 ฿77.5
$1.73 ؋112
33.53%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.50 ฿50.2
$1.11 ؋71.6
35.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.9K ฿698.3K
$8,439 ؋546.5K
147.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿895.0K
$34.2K ؋2.2M
-21.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Afghanistan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$61.3 ฿2,051
$57.5 ؋3,724
6.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.50 ฿419
$13.64 ؋884
-8.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.36 ฿682
$163 ؋10.6K
-87.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Afghanistan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.94 ฿1,270
$10.68 ؋692
255.24%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.77 ฿126
$4.03 ؋261
-6.45%
Cinema Ticket
$6.60 ฿221
$2.57 ؋166
156.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Afghanistan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$774 ฿25.9K
$20.21 ؋1,309
3729.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.4K ฿483.2K
$1,302 ؋84.3K
1008.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Afghanistan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.8 ฿1,835
$13.25 ؋858
313.58%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.26 ฿846
$18.30 ؋1,185
38.03%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.6 ฿3,032
$43.65 ؋2,827
107.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.3 ฿2,453
$32.51 ؋2,105
125.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Afghanistan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$459 ฿15.4K
$115 ؋7,464
298.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$294 ฿9,835
$89.7 ؋5,810
227.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$919 ฿30.8K
$196 ؋12.7K
368.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$552 ฿18.5K
$111 ؋7,217
395.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,917 ฿64.2K
$652 ؋42.2K
194.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,445 ฿48.4K
$351 ؋22.7K
311.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Afghanistan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$592 ฿19.8K
$259 ؋16.8K
128.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
18.22
-69.43%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: October 5, 2026
Last update for Afghanistan: October 6, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai $294 31.8%
Afghanistan $90 16.1% 69.5% $204
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai $236 25.6%
Afghanistan $102 18.4% 56.6% $134
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai $110 11.9%
Afghanistan $48 8.7% 55.8% $61
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai $94 10.2%
Afghanistan $235 42.2% 149% $140
Eating Out
Chiang Mai $77 8.4%
Afghanistan $45 8.1% 41.4% $32
Getting Around
Chiang Mai $61 6.6%
Afghanistan $20 3.5% 67.8% $41
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai $51 5.5%
Afghanistan $16 2.9% 69.1% $35
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai $552 29%
Afghanistan $111 11.9% 79.8% $440
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai $529 27.8%
Afghanistan $249 26.6% 52.9% $280
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai $244 12.8%
Afghanistan $108 11.5% 55.8% $136
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai $107 5.6%
Afghanistan $248 26.5% 133% $142
Eating Out
Chiang Mai $243 12.8%
Afghanistan $143 15.3% 41.1% $100
Getting Around
Chiang Mai $123 6.5%
Afghanistan $40 4.2% 67.8% $83
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai $106 5.6%
Afghanistan $36 3.8% 66.4% $70
Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇦🇫 Afghanistan
Weather
Population
127,240
41,454,761
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- Chiang Mai Afghanistan 3,420 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
- Chiang Mai
- Afghanistan
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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 other spots: cost of living compared
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