Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Cape Coast Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Cape Coast

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $808 in Cape Coast, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,315 in Cape Coast, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,823 in Cape Coast, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 7% more than Cape Coast, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chiang Mai and Cape Coast are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Cape Coast 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.9

$4.33 GHS 50.1

-54.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$47.00 GHS 543

-60.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$7.90 GHS 91.3

-5.32%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$3.45 GHS 39.84

-41.45%

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

$0.85 ฿28.52

$0.99 GHS 11.42

-14.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.97

$0.37 GHS 4.28

-2.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.9

$1.51 GHS 17.44

41.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$2.54 GHS 29.34

41.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$3.37 GHS 38.87

-51.04%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$1.45 GHS 16.74

8.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.05

$2.35 GHS 27.09

-49.36%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$2.26 GHS 26.12

-14.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿545

$11.32 GHS 131

43.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$4.55 GHS 52.6

-34.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$5.98 GHS 69.1

82.94%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$2.95 GHS 34.06

-8.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.27

$1.40 GHS 16.19

-16.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.8

$1.69 GHS 19.47

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$3.13 GHS 36.17

-48.88%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.56

$3.00 GHS 34.68

-54.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.47

$2.35 GHS 27.13

-48.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.51

$0.79 GHS 9.16

-15.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.74

$0.52 GHS 5.99

7.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$1.65 GHS 19.00

181.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$7.37 GHS 85.2

139.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.6

$1.15 GHS 13.29

61.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$1.94 GHS 22.41

70.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.70

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿651

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.92

$1.62 GHS 18.72

-16.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿45.00

$1.16 GHS 13.35

15.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$5.62 GHS 64.9

46.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.20

$1.08 GHS 12.47

12.96%

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

$21.4K ฿718.5K

$7,869 GHS 90.9K

171.36%

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

$22.5K ฿758.1K

$9,553 GHS 110.3K

135.85%

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

$70.7 ฿2,378

$54.6 GHS 630

29.53%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$13.10 GHS 151

7.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿589

$37.30 GHS 431

-53.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,418

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$9.61 GHS 111

-38.40%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$73.4 GHS 847

320.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.7K

$8,042 GHS 92.9K

85.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,876

$14.85 GHS 172

275.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿879

$18.52 GHS 214

40.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,793

$28.94 GHS 334

186.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,371

$40.61 GHS 469

73.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$704 GHS 8,127

-38.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,040

$256 GHS 2,955

-6.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$1,437 GHS 16.6K

-42.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$552 GHS 6,374

-7.22%

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

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

25.4

-80.31%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Cape Coast: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $704 in Cape Coast. 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $47.00 in Cape Coast. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $234 in Cape Coast – so Cape Coast wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Cape Coast: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Chiang Mai is pricier by about 7%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,212 in Cape Coast. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Cape Coast, 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 $861 in Chiang Mai and $808 in Cape Coast. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $73.4 in Cape Coast. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Cape Coast, where all-in costs run around $808, than in Chiang Mai at $861. In Cape Coast it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Cape Coast – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Cape Coast. 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.