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 $920 per month in Chiang Mai vs $664 in Banjul, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,408 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,170 in Banjul, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,895 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,675 in Banjul, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 39% more than Banjul, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Banjul are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 33% lower, Banjul 52% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.11 ฿69.6

$7.66 GMD 571

-72.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.75 ฿652

$76.1 GMD 5,674

-74.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.85 ฿193

$7.86 GMD 586

-25.57%

Cappuccino

$1.76 ฿58.1

$3.76 GMD 280

-53.19%

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

$0.74 ฿24.52

$2.69 GMD 201

-72.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ฿10.97

$1.65 GMD 123

-80.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.47 ฿81.5

$5.90 GMD 440

-58.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 ฿128

$4.71 GMD 351

-17.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ฿62.8

$1.34 GMD 99.6

41.79%

White Bread (500g)

$1.67 ฿55.0

$0.54 GMD 40.11

209.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.35 ฿44.53

$1.32 GMD 98.1

2.27%

Eggs

$2.14 ฿70.6

$1.88 GMD 140

13.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿525

$6.02 GMD 449

163.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.83 ฿93.5

$2.75 GMD 205

2.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.53 ฿348

$5.48 GMD 408

92.15%

Apples (1kg)

$2.38 ฿78.7

$2.07 GMD 154

14.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.24

$1.23 GMD 91.6

-13.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.1

$1.76 GMD 131

-13.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿49.62

$1.34 GMD 99.7

11.94%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.22

$0.87 GMD 65.0

47.13%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.40

$1.02 GMD 75.7

7.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 ฿22.68

$0.25 GMD 18.75

176.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.28

$0.66 GMD 49.23

-25.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿141

$1.67 GMD 125

155.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.78 ฿554

$6.45 GMD 481

160.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 ฿54.7

$1.52 GMD 113

9.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 ฿92.9

$1.68 GMD 125

67.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.63

$0.19 GMD 14.53

373.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.9 ฿1,813

$6.47 GMD 482

748.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 ฿39.49

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 ฿17.89

$0.65 GMD 48.73

-16.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.37 ฿78.4

$4.16 GMD 310

-43.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 ฿47.18

$1.04 GMD 77.8

37.50%

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

$21.1K ฿696.0K

$2,639 GMD 196.7K

698.63%

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

$27.1K ฿895.9K

$3,322 GMD 247.6K

716.77%

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

$64.7 ฿2,138

$30.59 GMD 2,280

111.64%

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

$13.19 ฿435

$14.22 GMD 1,060

-7.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.44 ฿642

$44.38 GMD 3,309

-56.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.45 ฿1,303

$23.71 GMD 1,767

66.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿124

$13.65 GMD 1,018

-72.38%

Cinema Ticket

$6.62 ฿219

$3.31 GMD 247

100.00%

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

$805 ฿26.6K

$6.88 GMD 513

11604.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.3K

$135 GMD 10.1K

11091.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.8 ฿1,808

$56.1 GMD 4,185

-2.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.43 ฿840

$43.59 GMD 3,249

-41.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.9 ฿3,034

$98.5 GMD 7,343

-6.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.7 ฿2,465

$88.7 GMD 6,609

-15.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$467 ฿15.4K

$101 GMD 7,500

363.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$282 ฿9,310

$79.6 GMD 5,937

254.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.4K

$219 GMD 16.3K

306.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.2K

$133 GMD 9,930

291.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,985 ฿65.5K

$1,471 GMD 109.7K

34.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,462 ฿48.3K

$1,159 GMD 86.4K

26.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$592 ฿19.5K

$60.6 GMD 4,520

876.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-62.87%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 17, 2026

Last update for Banjul: August 18, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $467 in Chiang Mai versus $101 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 877% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $76.0 in Banjul. Groceries tell a different story – $237 in Chiang Mai vs $149 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 39%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,380 per month in Chiang Mai and $996 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 $920 in Chiang Mai and $664 in Banjul. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 749% less in Banjul. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Banjul, where all-in costs run around $664, than in Chiang Mai at $920. In Banjul it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.