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 $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $619 in Banjul, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,112 in Banjul, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,605 in Banjul, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 40% more than Banjul, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Banjul are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Banjul 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$5.43 GMD 401

-63.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$64.0 GMD 4,723

-70.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$6.61 GMD 488

17.25%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$2.55 GMD 188

-24.71%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$2.15 GMD 159

-63.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$1.35 GMD 99.9

-73.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$3.91 GMD 289

-43.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$4.09 GMD 302

-10.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$1.41 GMD 104

17.02%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.52 GMD 38.60

213.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$1.35 GMD 100

-11.85%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$1.96 GMD 145

2.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$6.54 GMD 483

144.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$2.87 GMD 212

5.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$5.96 GMD 440

82.21%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$2.18 GMD 161

26.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$1.29 GMD 95.1

-8.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.87 GMD 138

-12.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$1.39 GMD 103

9.35%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$0.92 GMD 68.0

50.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$1.03 GMD 76.4

15.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$0.24 GMD 17.56

191.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$0.39 GMD 28.83

43.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$1.78 GMD 132

157.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

$6.37 GMD 470

159.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

$1.52 GMD 112

20.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

$1.79 GMD 133

78.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$0.22 GMD 16.28

300.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

$6.59 GMD 487

184.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$0.34 GMD 25.05

300.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$0.73 GMD 53.6

83.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$4.32 GMD 319

81.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$1.13 GMD 83.5

8.85%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$2,737 GMD 202.2K

689.95%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$3,441 GMD 254.1K

555.19%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$32.26 GMD 2,382

118.66%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$15.04 GMD 1,111

-9.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$46.51 GMD 3,434

-62.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$24.86 GMD 1,836

66.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$14.45 GMD 1,067

-51.83%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$3.48 GMD 257

65.80%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$6.90 GMD 509

4350.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$141 GMD 10.4K

10277.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$57.1 GMD 4,215

-2.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$44.79 GMD 3,308

-41.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$101 GMD 7,468

-15.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$85.6 GMD 6,318

-15.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$103 GMD 7,588

318.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$53.2 GMD 3,929

348.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$226 GMD 16.7K

260.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$139 GMD 10.3K

267.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

$1,445 GMD 106.7K

37.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

$1,141 GMD 84.3K

30.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

$58.5 GMD 4,318

958.35%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Banjul: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 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 958% 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 $64.0 in Banjul. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $152 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 40%, 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 $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $928 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 $869 in Chiang Mai and $619 in Banjul. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 184% 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 $869 in Chiang Mai and $619 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.