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 $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $801 in Cape Coast, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,315 in Cape Coast, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,829 in Cape Coast, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 8% more than Cape Coast, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chiang Mai and Cape Coast are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Cape Coast 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$4.43 GHS 52.0

-56.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$48.03 GHS 564

-61.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$7.95 GHS 93.4

-1.64%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$3.43 GHS 40.28

-43.15%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.93 GHS 10.93

-8.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.37 GHS 4.38

-5.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$1.59 GHS 18.61

33.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$2.45 GHS 28.79

52.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$3.48 GHS 40.80

-50.86%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$1.49 GHS 17.52

9.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$2.35 GHS 27.63

-51.49%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$2.29 GHS 26.84

-15.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$11.26 GHS 132

43.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$4.60 GHS 54.1

-32.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$6.01 GHS 70.6

81.36%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$2.92 GHS 34.27

-5.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$1.39 GHS 16.32

-12.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.71 GHS 20.04

-5.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$3.19 GHS 37.41

-50.16%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$3.14 GHS 36.87

-55.41%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$2.32 GHS 27.22

-49.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$0.76 GHS 8.94

-13.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.49 GHS 5.71

8.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$1.66 GHS 19.44

182.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$7.06 GHS 82.9

164.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.13 GHS 13.22

59.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.90 GHS 22.28

70.00%

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

$1.56 GHS 18.26

-9.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$1.17 GHS 13.74

10.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$5.63 GHS 66.1

39.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$1.11 GHS 13.08

14.41%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$8,141 GHS 95.6K

161.37%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$9,796 GHS 115.0K

126.75%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$55.8 GHS 655

23.85%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$13.40 GHS 157

5.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$37.90 GHS 445

-52.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$9.88 GHS 116

-40.08%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$73.0 GHS 858

309.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$8,176 GHS 96.0K

82.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$14.92 GHS 175

266.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$18.60 GHS 218

43.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$29.54 GHS 347

187.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$41.13 GHS 483

71.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$696 GHS 8,166

-38.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$260 GHS 3,057

-8.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$1,404 GHS 16.5K

-42.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$554 GHS 6,507

-6.99%

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 %)

25.4

-80.31%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Cape Coast: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $696 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $48.00 in Cape Coast. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $235 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 8%, 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,201 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 $866 in Chiang Mai and $801 in Cape Coast. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $73.0 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 $801, than in Chiang Mai at $866. 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.