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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,470 in Dakar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,312 in Dakar, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,154 in Dakar, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 36% cheaper than Dakar, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 31% below the global median, while Dakar is 7% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.6

$5.22 F CFA 2,943

-60.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿646

$55.8 F CFA 31.5K

-64.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿186

$11.44 F CFA 6,446

-50.61%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.4

$3.56 F CFA 2,006

-49.16%

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

$0.71 ฿23.45

$1.25 F CFA 707

-43.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.38

$0.89 F CFA 501

-64.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿73.6

$2.61 F CFA 1,470

-14.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿119

$4.38 F CFA 2,467

-17.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿64.4

$2.85 F CFA 1,604

-31.23%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.39

$0.77 F CFA 434

94.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.93

$1.77 F CFA 996

-24.29%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿74.5

$2.54 F CFA 1,431

-11.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿535

$17.81 F CFA 10.0K

-8.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.1

$9.26 F CFA 5,220

-68.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿327

$11.35 F CFA 6,395

-12.42%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿84.6

$3.35 F CFA 1,886

-23.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿34.73

$2.01 F CFA 1,136

-47.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.0

$2.97 F CFA 1,674

-45.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.97

$1.87 F CFA 1,054

-18.72%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿41.77

$1.39 F CFA 784

-8.63%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.06

$0.99 F CFA 556

8.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.68

$1.14 F CFA 642

-36.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.72

$0.67 F CFA 378

-23.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿138

$2.17 F CFA 1,225

93.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿587

$18.05 F CFA 10.2K

-1.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿55.7

$1.62 F CFA 911

4.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿93.3

$3.37 F CFA 1,897

-15.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.43

$0.38 F CFA 215

144.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,771

$81.3 F CFA 45.8K

-33.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.59

$2.25 F CFA 1,270

-45.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿18.96

$2.25 F CFA 1,267

-74.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿79.7

$17.99 F CFA 10.1K

-86.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.43

$1.68 F CFA 946

-16.07%

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

$21.4K ฿705.1K

$52.4K F CFA 29.5M

-59.06%

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

$27.3K ฿898.7K

$49.8K F CFA 28.1M

-45.16%

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

$63.7 ฿2,093

$213 F CFA 119.9K

-70.06%

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

$12.85 ฿423

$11.99 F CFA 6,756

7.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿665

$47.19 F CFA 26.6K

-57.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,274

$46.17 F CFA 26.0K

-16.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

$24.08 F CFA 13.6K

-83.51%

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿222

$8.72 F CFA 4,916

-22.71%

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

$778 ฿25.6K

$330 F CFA 186.1K

135.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿480.4K

$10.8K F CFA 6.1M

35.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,785

$59.7 F CFA 33.6K

-9.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿837

$47.50 F CFA 26.8K

-46.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,102

$89.6 F CFA 50.5K

5.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,415

$100 F CFA 56.4K

-26.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.1K

$841 F CFA 474.1K

-41.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,512

$445 F CFA 250.8K

-34.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.4K

$1,781 F CFA 1.0M

-49.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.0K

$957 F CFA 539.4K

-45.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.3K

$4,987 F CFA 2.8M

-60.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿48.6K

$1,582 F CFA 891.6K

-6.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿19.8K

$352 F CFA 198.4K

71.09%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

8.75

-36.34%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Last update for Dakar: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $841 in Dakar. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 71% higher in Chiang Mai, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $56.0 in Dakar. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $240 vs $307 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Dakar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Dakar costs about 55% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,421 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,205 in Dakar. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $778 per month in Chiang Mai and $330 in Dakar. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 28% more in Dakar, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $947, than in Dakar at $1,470. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Dakar it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $947 versus $1,470 in Dakar. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Dakar makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.