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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $906 per month in Chiang Mai vs $817 in Calabar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,385 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,137 in Calabar, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,864 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,456 in Calabar, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 11% more than Calabar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Calabar are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Calabar 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.13 ฿71.6

$1.13 ₦1,493

88.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.40 ฿651

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.47 ฿184

Cappuccino

$1.68 ฿56.6

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

$0.66 ฿22.17

$0.37 ₦484

78.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 ฿11.55

$0.18 ₦245

88.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.42 ฿81.3

$0.94 ₦1,240

157.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿125

$1.24 ₦1,636

200.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.06 ฿69.1

White Bread (500g)

$1.46 ฿48.93

$1.33 ₦1,756

9.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.35 ฿45.22

$1.54 ₦2,043

-12.34%

Eggs

$2.27 ฿76.2

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.31 ฿548

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.70 ฿90.6

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.20 ฿309

Apples (1kg)

$2.39 ฿80.4

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 ฿34.76

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 ฿53.9

Tomato (1kg)

$1.44 ฿48.51

Potato (1kg)

$1.30 ฿43.72

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 ฿37.40

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿23.62

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿17.04

$0.47 ₦626

8.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.13 ฿139

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿597

$4.57 ₦6,048

289.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.9

$1.13 ₦1,494

44.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 ฿96.3

$1.49 ₦1,977

92.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 ฿28.84

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.2 ฿1,785

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.22 ฿40.94

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.56 ฿18.87

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.31 ฿77.7

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.50 ฿50.3

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

$20.9K ฿700.4K

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

$26.7K ฿897.7K

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

$61.3 ฿2,057

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

$12.50 ฿420

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.36 ฿684

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.94 ฿1,274

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿126

Cinema Ticket

$6.60 ฿222

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

$774 ฿26.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.4K ฿484.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.8 ฿1,840

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.26 ฿848

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.6 ฿3,041

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.3 ฿2,460

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$459 ฿15.4K

$1,114 ₦1.5M

-58.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$294 ฿9,865

$754 ₦998.3K

-61.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$919 ฿30.9K

$1,898 ₦2.5M

-51.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$552 ฿18.5K

$1,367 ₦1.8M

-59.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,917 ฿64.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,445 ฿48.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$592 ฿19.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 5, 2026

Last update for Calabar: October 3, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $459 in Chiang Mai versus $1,114 in Calabar. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

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 Calabar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $906 in Chiang Mai, $817 in Calabar – roughly 11% apart. Chiang Mai costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,359 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,226 in Calabar. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Calabar, 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 $906 in Chiang Mai and $817 in Calabar. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 451% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Calabar, where all-in costs run around $817, than in Chiang Mai at $906. In Calabar it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $817 in Calabar to $906 in Chiang Mai. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Calabar. 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.