Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Ajdabiya Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Ajdabiya

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $861 in Chiang Mai versus $124 in Ajdabiya.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,350 in Chiang Mai versus $199 in Ajdabiya.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,838 in Chiang Mai versus $275 in Ajdabiya.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 597% more expensive than in Ajdabiya, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 36% lower, Ajdabiya 91% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$8.45 LYD 53.8

29.47%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$1.45 LYD 9.25

86.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$1.09 LYD 6.94

7.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$0.77 LYD 4.88

119.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$0.45 LYD 2.87

255.56%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$0.48 LYD 3.05

187.50%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$0.44 LYD 2.82

172.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$0.16 LYD 1.03

250.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$1.84 LYD 11.74

152.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$0.94 LYD 5.96

44.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

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

$14.04 ฿472

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

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

$309 ฿10.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$128 LYD 815

237.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

$74.3 LYD 474

221.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$272 LYD 1,736

201.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$146 LYD 929

251.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Ajdabiya: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $432 in Chiang Mai and $128 in Ajdabiya. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

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 Ajdabiya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ajdabiya wins on cost – living expenses run 597% lower than in Chiang Mai. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ajdabiya the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,292 in Chiang Mai and $185 in Ajdabiya 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $432 in Chiang Mai versus $128 in Ajdabiya. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 399% higher in Chiang Mai. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $861 per month in Chiang Mai versus $124 in Ajdabiya – a 597% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Ajdabiya gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both work as nomad bases, but Ajdabiya delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $124 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ajdabiya hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Ajdabiya 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 Ajdabiya gentler on the wallet – expenses run 597% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.