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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $617 in Banjul, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,087 in Banjul, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,558 in Banjul, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 38% more than Banjul, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Banjul are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Banjul 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$5.32 GMD 395

-63.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$65.3 GMD 4,842

-71.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$6.76 GMD 502

17.16%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$2.48 GMD 184

-22.98%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$2.23 GMD 165

-62.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$1.31 GMD 97.0

-73.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$4.06 GMD 301

-45.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$4.20 GMD 311

-9.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.43 GMD 106

14.69%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$0.57 GMD 42.18

184.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$1.42 GMD 106

-16.90%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$2.01 GMD 149

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$6.29 GMD 466

152.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$2.80 GMD 208

7.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$5.96 GMD 442

80.70%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$2.17 GMD 161

20.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$1.32 GMD 97.7

-7.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$1.92 GMD 142

-11.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$1.44 GMD 107

9.72%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$0.96 GMD 71.2

37.50%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$1.03 GMD 76.4

13.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$0.26 GMD 19.31

157.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.42 GMD 31.20

33.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$1.82 GMD 135

148.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$6.57 GMD 487

177.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$1.52 GMD 113

20.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.72 GMD 128

87.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$0.20 GMD 14.81

345.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

$6.71 GMD 498

188.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$0.33 GMD 24.70

309.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$0.68 GMD 50.8

98.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$4.22 GMD 313

95.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$1.13 GMD 83.6

12.39%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$2,719 GMD 201.6K

678.09%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$3,451 GMD 255.9K

551.63%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$31.54 GMD 2,339

122.42%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$14.86 GMD 1,102

-7.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$47.93 GMD 3,555

-63.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$24.43 GMD 1,812

70.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

$14.21 GMD 1,054

-53.55%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$3.62 GMD 268

59.67%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$7.12 GMD 528

4200.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$143 GMD 10.6K

10292.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$56.1 GMD 4,163

-3.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$43.77 GMD 3,246

-40.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$100 GMD 7,450

-15.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$86.1 GMD 6,383

-19.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$103 GMD 7,662

310.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$54.4 GMD 4,037

337.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$227 GMD 16.9K

262.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$144 GMD 10.7K

256.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

$1,437 GMD 106.6K

42.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

$1,159 GMD 85.9K

31.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

$60.4 GMD 4,480

951.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.12

-50.59%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Last update for Banjul: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $103 in Banjul. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 951% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $65.0 in Banjul. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $153 in Banjul – so Banjul wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Banjul: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Chiang Mai is pricier by about 38%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $925 in Banjul. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Banjul, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $852 in Chiang Mai and $617 in Banjul. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 189% less in Banjul. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $617 in Banjul, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Banjul – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

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