😐A single person spends $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $456 in Djerba, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $795 in Djerba, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,133 in Djerba, rent included.
😐Chiang Mai costs about 108% more than Djerba, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Djerba are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai31% lower, Djerba67% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Djerba
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.08฿68.5
$2.88TND 8.33
-27.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.64฿646
$20.11TND 58.1
-2.34%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.65฿186
$3.72TND 10.77
51.88%
Cappuccino
$1.81฿59.3
$0.75TND 2.17
141.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71฿23.44
$0.60TND 1.75
18.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32฿10.38
$0.25TND 0.72
28.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.24฿73.5
$1.65TND 4.78
35.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63฿119
$2.01TND 5.82
80.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Djerba
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.96฿64.4
$0.46TND 1.33
326.09%
White Bread(500g)
$1.50฿49.38
$0.19TND 0.54
689.47%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.34฿43.92
$1.35TND 3.91
-0.74%
Eggs
$2.26฿74.4
$1.57TND 4.53
43.95%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.26฿534
$10.41TND 30.11
56.20%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.95฿97.1
$5.15TND 14.88
-42.72%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.94฿327
$13.64TND 39.44
-27.13%
Apples(1kg)
$2.57฿84.5
$1.73TND 5.01
48.55%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06฿34.72
$2.48TND 7.18
-57.26%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.61฿53.0
$1.08TND 3.11
49.07%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.52฿49.96
$0.65TND 1.88
133.85%
Potato(1kg)
$1.27฿41.76
$0.59TND 1.71
115.25%
Onion(1kg)
$1.07฿35.05
$0.66TND 1.92
62.12%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.72฿23.67
$0.53TND 1.52
35.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51฿16.72
$0.30TND 0.87
70.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19฿138
$3.35TND 9.68
25.07%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.87฿587
$5.55TND 16.05
221.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69฿55.7
$1.17TND 3.39
44.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84฿93.2
$0.81TND 2.34
250.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Djerba
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.93฿30.42
$0.17TND 0.50
447.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$53.9฿1,770
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.23฿40.58
$0.30TND 0.86
310.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.58฿18.96
$0.22TND 0.64
163.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.42฿79.7
$7.39TND 21.36
-67.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.41฿46.42
$0.90TND 2.59
56.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K฿704.9K
$37.1KTND 107.2K
-42.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.3K฿898.5K
$35.9KTND 103.9K
-23.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Djerba
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$63.7฿2,093
$24.09TND 69.7
164.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.85฿423
$9.71TND 28.07
32.34%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.22฿665
$14.68TND 42.44
37.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Djerba
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.74฿1,274
$16.87TND 48.77
129.64%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.97฿130
$17.42TND 50.4
-77.21%
Cinema Ticket
$6.74฿221
$4.03TND 11.64
67.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Djerba
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$778฿25.6K
$51.8TND 150
1402.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.6K฿480.2K
$2,459TND 7,111
494.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Djerba
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.3฿1,785
$34.65TND 100
56.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.45฿836
$36.56TND 106
-30.39%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.3฿3,101
$33.94TND 98.1
177.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.4฿2,414
$69.5TND 201
5.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Djerba
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$490฿16.1K
$119TND 345
310.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$289฿9,510
$68.3TND 197
323.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$894฿29.4K
$280TND 811
218.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$517฿17.0K
$213TND 616
142.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,955฿64.3K
$980TND 2,834
99.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,477฿48.5K
$514TND 1,487
187.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Djerba
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$602฿19.8K
$282TND 815
113.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
13.6
-59.04%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026
Last update for Djerba: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $119 in Djerba. 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 114% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $20.00 in Djerba. Groceries tell a different story – $240 in Chiang Mai vs $175 in Djerba – so Djerba 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 Djerba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Djerba?
Chiang Mai costs about 108% more than Djerba, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai and in Djerba?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,421 per month in Chiang Mai and $684 in Djerba. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Djerba?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Djerba, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Djerba?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $20.00 in Djerba. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or in Djerba?
Groceries cost about 38% 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.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Chiang Mai or in Djerba?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Djerba, where all-in costs run around $456, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Djerba it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Djerba?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Djerba costs $456 versus $947 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Djerba?
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.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or to Djerba?
If budget matters most, go with Djerba. 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.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared