Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Baidoa

For one person, living is cheaper in Baidoa: $104 a month against $935 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $10,000 less a year. Other living expenses account for most 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

$935

/mo nomad

Baidoa

🇸🇴 Somalia

$104

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Baidoa

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 Baidoa actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $935 per month in Chiang Mai vs $104 in Baidoa, rent included.

Chiang Mai $935
Baidoa $104

A couple spends around $1,467 per month in Chiang Mai vs $184 in Baidoa, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,467
Baidoa $184

A family of three spends $1,999 per month in Chiang Mai vs $264 in Baidoa, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,999
Baidoa $264

Chiang Mai costs about 796% more than Baidoa, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Baidoa are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Baidoa 92% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.13 ฿71.7

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.62 ฿625

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.60 ฿188

Cappuccino

$1.66 ฿55.9

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

$0.65 ฿21.73

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ฿10.24

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 ฿78.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿123

Milk (1 liter)

$2.02 ฿67.7

$2.03 SOS 1,152

-0.49%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ฿47.29

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.75

$1.22 SOS 692

13.93%

Eggs

$2.37 ฿79.5

$3.51 SOS 1,995

-32.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.52 ฿555

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.67 ฿89.7

$8.80 SOS 5,000

-69.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.02 ฿303

$7.06 SOS 4,010

27.76%

Apples (1kg)

$2.40 ฿80.6

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 ฿34.98

Oranges (1kg)

$1.66 ฿55.7

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 ฿52.4

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.57

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.50

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 ฿25.59

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿17.27

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.12 ฿138

Wine (Bottle)

$17.93 ฿602

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 ฿54.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 ฿94.8

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿31.39

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$52.9 ฿1,777

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ฿39.52

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.17 ฿5.76

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 ฿60.9

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ฿49.47

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

$21.0K ฿705.8K

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

$26.5K ฿890.7K

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

$62.6 ฿2,101

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

$11.60 ฿390

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.30 ฿682

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.88 ฿1,272

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.70 ฿124

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 ฿219

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

$727 ฿24.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.6K ฿556.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.5 ฿1,798

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.80 ฿833

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.4 ฿3,036

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.0 ฿2,418

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$481 ฿16.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$310 ฿10.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,058 ฿35.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$659 ฿22.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,418 ฿81.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,609 ฿54.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿20.0K

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: November 1, 2026

Last update for Baidoa: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$310 33.1%

Baidoa

–

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$237 25.3%

Baidoa

–

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$108 11.6%

Baidoa

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Baidoa

–

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$77 8.2%

Baidoa

–

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$59 6.3%

Baidoa

–

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$51 5.4%

Baidoa

–

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇸🇴 Baidoa

🕒 Local time

11:19 11:19 AM

07:19 7:19 AM

4 h behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

129,839

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Somali Shilling SOS Sh

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.98 USD

100 THB = 2.64 EUR

1,000 SOS = 1.76 USD

1,000 SOS = 1.56 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

SOS, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 33.59 THB (100 THB = 2.98 USD). 1 EUR = 37.81 THB (100 THB = 2.64 EUR).

Somali Shilling exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 568 SOS (1,000 SOS = 1.76 USD). 1 EUR = 639 SOS (1,000 SOS = 1.56 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Chiang Mai Baidoa 6,260 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Baidoa

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 Baidoa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $935 in Chiang Mai, $104 in Baidoa – Baidoa comes out roughly 89% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $157 in Baidoa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $935 in Chiang Mai and $104 in Baidoa. That makes Baidoa about 89% cheaper.

Groceries cost about 127% more in Chiang Mai, though the gap depends on what you buy.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $935 in Chiang Mai and $104 in Baidoa, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $104 in Baidoa to $935 in Chiang Mai. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.