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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $866 in Chiang Mai versus $838 in Bouake.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,351 in Chiang Mai versus $1,319 in Bouake.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,835 in Chiang Mai versus $1,801 in Bouake.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 3% more expensive than Bouake, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 35% lower, Bouake 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$3.49 F CFA 1,967

-44.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$53.1 F CFA 30.0K

-64.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$10.68 F CFA 6,021

-26.78%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$1.90 F CFA 1,070

2.63%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.81 F CFA 455

4.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.83 F CFA 469

-57.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$1.04 F CFA 585

104.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$1.78 F CFA 1,005

109.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$2.40 F CFA 1,352

-28.75%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.57 F CFA 324

185.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$1.30 F CFA 734

-12.31%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$2.21 F CFA 1,244

-12.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$22.49 F CFA 12.7K

-27.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$8.78 F CFA 4,954

-64.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$6.11 F CFA 3,447

78.40%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$4.05 F CFA 2,283

-32.10%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$1.10 F CFA 619

10.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$2.17 F CFA 1,226

-25.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$2.05 F CFA 1,157

-22.44%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$1.68 F CFA 948

-16.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$1.70 F CFA 961

-31.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$0.89 F CFA 500

-25.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.85 F CFA 478

-37.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$1.74 F CFA 983

169.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$6.14 F CFA 3,461

203.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.02 F CFA 573

76.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.39 F CFA 782

132.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$1.73 F CFA 977

-18.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$1.61 F CFA 908

-19.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$26.67 F CFA 15.0K

-70.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$1.56 F CFA 878

-18.59%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$31.8K F CFA 17.9M

-33.00%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$29.9K F CFA 16.9M

-25.76%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$183 F CFA 103.1K

-62.21%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$36.49 F CFA 20.6K

-61.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$46.04 F CFA 26.0K

-60.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$8.62 F CFA 4,862

-31.32%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$294 F CFA 165.9K

1.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$3,221 F CFA 1.8M

364.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$92.8 F CFA 52.4K

-41.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$57.9 F CFA 32.7K

-53.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$84.7 F CFA 47.8K

0.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$139 F CFA 78.6K

-49.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.75

-66.10%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Bouake: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $19.00 in Chiang Mai vs $53.0 in Bouake for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $246 vs $262 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 Bouake: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bouake wins on cost – living expenses run 3% lower than in Chiang Mai. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bouake the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,300 in Chiang Mai and $1,257 in Bouake to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Shoppers in Chiang Mai pay roughly 6% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $866 per month in Chiang Mai versus $838 in Bouake – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Bouake gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both work as nomad bases, but Bouake delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $838 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Bouake hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Bouake 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 Bouake gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.