Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Cabinda

For one person, living is cheaper in Cabinda: $74.8 a month against $936 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $10,300 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Chiang Mai, Thailand
Cabinda, Angola
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$936
/mo nomad
Cabinda
🇦🇴 Angola
$74.8
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Cabinda

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Cabinda actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $75 in Cabinda, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $936
  • Cabinda $75

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,603 in Cabinda, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,457
  • Cabinda $1,603

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,131 in Cabinda, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,979
  • Cabinda $3,131

Chiang Mai costs about 1151% more than Cabinda, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Chiang Mai and Cabinda are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Cabinda 95% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Cabinda
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.24 ฿75.6
$7.54 AOA 6,887
-70.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.00 ฿641
$40.54 AOA 37.0K
-53.13%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.55 ฿187
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.67 ฿56.5
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 ฿21.55
$0.97 AOA 886
-34.02%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ฿10.31
$1.66 AOA 1,518
-81.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.36 ฿79.6
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 ฿124
$1.95 AOA 1,779
87.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Cabinda
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.95 ฿65.8
-
-
White Bread (500g)
$1.44 ฿48.48
-
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 ฿45.04
-
-
Eggs
$2.28 ฿77.1
-
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.45 ฿555
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.78 ฿93.9
-
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.31 ฿314
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 ฿79.4
-
-
Banana (1kg)
$0.97 ฿32.80
-
-
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 ฿53.9
-
-
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.6
-
-
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 ฿43.12
-
-
Onion (1kg)
$1.10 ฿37.19
-
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 ฿23.82
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.37
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.14 ฿140
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$17.52 ฿591
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61 ฿54.5
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ฿94.0
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Cabinda
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.87 ฿29.31
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$54.1 ฿1,826
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.16 ฿39.06
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 ฿17.80
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.42 ฿81.8
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.90
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1K ฿710.7K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K ฿909.3K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Cabinda
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.2 ฿2,098
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.17 ฿411
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.12 ฿679
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Cabinda
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.31 ฿1,259
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.77 ฿127
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.49 ฿219
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Cabinda
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$736 ฿24.8K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿498.3K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Cabinda
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.4 ฿1,801
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.64 ฿831
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.5 ฿3,087
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.9 ฿2,428
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Cabinda
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$482 ฿16.3K
$637 AOA 581.5K
-24.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 ฿10.4K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,006 ฿33.9K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$633 ฿21.4K
$2,769 AOA 2.5M
-77.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,363 ฿79.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,589 ฿53.6K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Cabinda
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$590 ฿19.9K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
0
-

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Last update for Cabinda: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$309
Cabinda
–
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$234
Cabinda
–
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$109
Cabinda
–
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$94
Cabinda
–
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$78
Cabinda
–
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$61
Cabinda
–
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$50
Cabinda
–

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Chiang Mai versus $637 in Cabinda. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $41 in Cabinda. Use this as a proxy for overall food spending across the two cities.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇦🇴 Cabinda
🕒 Local time
16:06 4:06 PM
10:06 10:06 AM
6 h behind Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
377,931
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

AOA, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 33.75 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.66 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Angolan Kwanza exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 913 AOA (1,000 AOA = 1.1 USD). 1 EUR = 1,019 AOA (10,000 AOA = 9.82 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Mai Cabinda 9,870 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • Cabinda

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Cabinda: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cabinda cheaper than Chiang Mai?
Yes – Chiang Mai is pricier by about 1151%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $112 in Cabinda. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $482 there versus $637 in Cabinda.
What are total monthly expenses in Chiang Mai and in Cabinda?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $936 in Chiang Mai and $75 in Cabinda. That makes Cabinda about 92% cheaper.
Is eating out cheaper in Chiang Mai or in Cabinda?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai and $41 in Cabinda. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is it better to live in Chiang Mai or in Cabinda?
It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $75 in Cabinda to $936 in Chiang Mai. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared

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