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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $861 in Chiang Mai versus $890 in Bissau.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,350 in Chiang Mai versus $1,401 in Bissau.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,838 in Chiang Mai versus $1,912 in Bissau.

Living in Chiang Mai costs roughly 3% less than in Bissau, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 36% lower, Bissau 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.9

$5.21 F CFA 2,985

-62.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$25.97 F CFA 14.9K

-29.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$9.21 F CFA 5,283

-18.78%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$1.81 F CFA 1,036

11.60%

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

$0.85 ฿28.52

$1.03 F CFA 591

-17.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.97

$0.92 F CFA 529

-60.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.9

$0.74 F CFA 427

189.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$1.81 F CFA 1,036

-8.84%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$0.98 F CFA 565

60.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.05

$2.07 F CFA 1,185

-42.51%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$5.17 F CFA 2,967

-62.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿545

$14.82 F CFA 8,498

9.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$14.30 F CFA 8,199

-79.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$13.96 F CFA 8,005

-21.63%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$4.50 F CFA 2,578

-39.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.27

$1.08 F CFA 622

8.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.8

$4.53 F CFA 2,599

-62.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$0.17 F CFA 95.6

841.18%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.56

$1.40 F CFA 801

-1.43%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.47

$1.39 F CFA 797

-13.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.51

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.74

$1.30 F CFA 743

-56.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$7.02 F CFA 4,025

151.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.6

$1.32 F CFA 758

40.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$0.87 F CFA 497

279.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.70

$0.55 F CFA 317

60.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿651

$25.29 F CFA 14.5K

-23.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.92

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿45.00

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.20

$1.53 F CFA 879

-20.26%

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

$21.4K ฿718.5K

$32.2K F CFA 18.5M

-33.77%

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

$22.5K ฿758.1K

$28.5K F CFA 16.4M

-21.01%

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

$70.7 ฿2,378

$107 F CFA 61.4K

-33.95%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$34.34 F CFA 19.7K

-59.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿589

$44.48 F CFA 25.5K

-60.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,418

$43.52 F CFA 25.0K

-3.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$751 F CFA 430.8K

-58.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.7K

$2,344 F CFA 1.3M

534.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,876

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿879

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,793

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,371

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$442 F CFA 253.6K

-2.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,040

$237 F CFA 135.9K

0.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$740 F CFA 424.7K

11.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$487 F CFA 279.4K

5.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$1,062 F CFA 608.9K

-45.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Bissau: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $432 in Chiang Mai and $442 in Bissau. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bissau pays 83% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $18.00 in Chiang Mai vs $26.00 in Bissau for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $243 vs $308 per month, with Chiang Mai cheaper across the board.

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 Bissau: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai and Bissau differ by about 3% in total monthly costs ($861 vs $890 including rent). Chiang Mai is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 83% lower in Bissau. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $432 in Chiang Mai versus $442 in Bissau. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $309 in Chiang Mai versus $751 in Bissau. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 26% higher in Bissau. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $861 in Chiang Mai versus $890 in Bissau, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Bissau. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Bissau are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Chiang Mai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Bissau. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.