Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Bahir Dar

For one person, living is cheaper in Bahir Dar: $374 a month against $936 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $6,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

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Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$936

/mo nomad

Bahir Dar

🇪🇹 Ethiopia

$374

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Bahir Dar

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Bahir Dar actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $374 in Bahir Dar, rent included.

Chiang Mai $936
Bahir Dar $374

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $568 in Bahir Dar, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,457
Bahir Dar $568

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $763 in Bahir Dar, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,979
Bahir Dar $763

Chiang Mai costs about 150% more than Bahir Dar, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Bahir Dar are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Bahir Dar 73% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.24 ฿75.7

$3.43 ETB 552

-34.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.00 ฿642

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.55 ฿188

Cappuccino

$1.67 ฿56.6

$1.02 ETB 164

63.73%

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

$0.64 ฿21.56

$0.41 ETB 66.7

56.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.32

$0.48 ETB 77.9

-35.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 ฿79.6

$0.72 ETB 116

227.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿124

$1.96 ETB 315

86.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ฿65.8

$0.98 ETB 157

98.98%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ฿48.51

$1.02 ETB 164

41.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 ฿45.07

$1.01 ETB 163

31.68%

Eggs

$2.28 ฿77.1

$1.77 ETB 285

28.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.45 ฿556

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.78 ฿94.0

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.31 ฿314

$10.06 ETB 1,618

-7.46%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 ฿79.5

$3.04 ETB 488

-22.70%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 ฿32.82

$0.97 ETB 157

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 ฿53.9

$2.03 ETB 326

-21.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.7

$0.79 ETB 127

89.87%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿43.15

$0.62 ETB 99.5

106.45%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿37.22

$1.18 ETB 190

-6.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿23.84

$1.02 ETB 164

-30.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.38

$0.51 ETB 82.8

-3.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 ฿140

Wine (Bottle)

$17.52 ฿592

$4.03 ETB 649

334.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 ฿54.5

$0.77 ETB 125

109.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿94.0

$1.94 ETB 313

43.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ฿29.33

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.1 ฿1,827

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 ฿39.08

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.82

$0.48 ETB 77.2

10.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿81.8

$1.97 ETB 316

22.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.93

$1.02 ETB 164

42.16%

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

$21.1K ฿711.2K

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

$26.9K ฿909.8K

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

$62.2 ฿2,100

$101 ETB 16.2K

-38.33%

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

$12.17 ฿411

$10.15 ETB 1,633

19.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ฿680

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.31 ฿1,260

$50.9 ETB 8,179

-26.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿127

$60.5 ETB 9,722

-93.76%

Cinema Ticket

$6.49 ฿219

$6.10 ETB 981

6.39%

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

$736 ฿24.9K

$49.48 ETB 7,957

1387.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿498.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 ฿1,802

$49.10 ETB 7,895

8.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.64 ฿832

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.5 ฿3,089

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.9 ฿2,429

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 ฿10.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 ฿34.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$633 ฿21.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,363 ฿79.8K

$2,039 ETB 327.9K

15.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,589 ฿53.7K

$1,502 ETB 241.5K

5.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$590 ฿19.9K

$200 ETB 32.1K

195.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Last update for Bahir Dar: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$309 33%

Bahir Dar

–

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$234 25.1%

Bahir Dar

–

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$109 11.6%

Bahir Dar

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Bahir Dar

–

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$78 8.3%

Bahir Dar

–

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Bahir Dar

–

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Bahir Dar

–

Cost Breakdown

Salaries in Chiang Mai are about 3 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇪🇹 Bahir Dar

🕒 Local time

13:29 1:29 PM

09:29 9:29 AM

4 h behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

350,000

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Ethiopian Birr ETB Br

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

1,000 ETB = 6.22 USD

1,000 ETB = 5.59 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

ETB, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 33.77 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.59 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Ethiopian Birr exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 161 ETB (1,000 ETB = 6.22 USD). 1 EUR = 179 ETB (1,000 ETB = 5.59 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Chiang Mai Bahir Dar 6,630 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Bahir Dar

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 Bahir Dar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 150% more than Bahir Dar, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $561 in Bahir Dar. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $936 in Chiang Mai and $374 in Bahir Dar. That makes Bahir Dar about 60% cheaper.

Groceries cost about 88% more in Chiang Mai, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A $800 monthly budget goes further in Bahir Dar, where all-in costs run around $374, than in Chiang Mai at $936. In Bahir Dar it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $374 in Bahir Dar to $936 in Chiang Mai. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

If budget matters most, go with Bahir Dar. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.