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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 48.3% more expensive than Buea without rent, and 56.7% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 41.9% more expensive than Buea without rent, and 71.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Buea
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.02 ฿65.3
$1.81 FCFA 1,024
11.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.78 ฿608
-
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.67 ฿248
$6.26 FCFA 3,541
22.52%
Cappuccino
$1.98 ฿64.2
$2.14 FCFA 1,212
-7.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ฿26.64
$1.22 FCFA 688
-32.79%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ฿10.58
$0.49 FCFA 277
-32.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.12 ฿68.6
$1.04 FCFA 586
103.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿121
$1.44 FCFA 816
159.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Buea
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ฿53.2
$3.13 FCFA 1,772
-47.60%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ฿50.9
$0.39 FCFA 220
302.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿38.62
$1.6 FCFA 906
-25.63%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿64.1
$2.7 FCFA 1,528
-26.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.99 ฿517
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 ฿101
-
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.16 ฿361
$4.49 FCFA 2,541
148.55%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 ฿89.2
$3.62 FCFA 2,049
-23.76%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿39.5
$1.39 FCFA 786
-12.23%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ฿55.4
$0.86 FCFA 485
98.84%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 ฿50.2
$1.43 FCFA 812
8.39%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 ฿43.21
$1.81 FCFA 1,024
-25.97%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 ฿39.23
$1.37 FCFA 775
-11.68%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿23.2
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.05
$0.69 FCFA 388
-23.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.72 ฿153
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$18.39 ฿595
$8.38 FCFA 4,744
119.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ฿57.9
$1.21 FCFA 684
47.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ฿104
$1.74 FCFA 984
84.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Buea
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 ฿30.44
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.9 ฿612
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 ฿46.08
$0.25 FCFA 140
468.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿43.53
$0.49 FCFA 279
175.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 ฿254
$5.26 FCFA 2,976
49.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 ฿40.4
$1.23 FCFA 698
1.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿684.9K
$19.3K FCFA 10.9M
9.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿706.8K
$20.8K FCFA 11.8M
5.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Buea
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.6 ฿2,285
$62.6 FCFA 35.4K
12.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.72 ฿444
$17.89 FCFA 10.1K
-23.31%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.56 ฿568
$109 FCFA 61.5K
-83.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Buea
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.64 ฿1,347
$25.99 FCFA 14.7K
60.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.9 ฿223
$4.44 FCFA 2,511
55.41%
Cinema Ticket
$5.8 ฿188
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Buea
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 ฿9,963
$624 FCFA 353.5K
-50.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ฿475.8K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Buea
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4 ฿1,793
$35.17 FCFA 19.9K
57.52%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.4 ฿854
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.1 ฿2,755
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8 ฿2,323
$70.2 FCFA 39.7K
2.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Buea
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$434 ฿14K
$71 FCFA 40.2K
511.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 ฿7,610
$61 FCFA 34.5K
285.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$821 ฿26.6K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ฿16.1K
$211 FCFA 119.3K
136.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,180 ฿70.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,543 ฿49.9K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Buea
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$703 ฿22.8K
$133 FCFA 75.1K
430.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
0
-

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

Last update for Buea: October 29, 2025

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