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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $457 in Djerba, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $804 in Djerba, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,151 in Djerba, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 89% more than Djerba, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Djerba are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Djerba 66% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.6

$2.86 TND 8.30

-32.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$20.64 TND 59.8

-9.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿256

$3.46 TND 10.02

126.01%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.9

$0.71 TND 2.06

174.65%

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

$0.85 ฿27.80

$0.61 TND 1.76

39.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.60

$0.23 TND 0.66

52.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.7

$1.50 TND 4.34

42.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$2.00 TND 5.80

86.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$0.50 TND 1.44

242.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.3

$0.15 TND 0.43

986.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.18

$1.54 TND 4.47

-25.97%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.2

$1.54 TND 4.46

25.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$9.98 TND 28.90

62.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$4.98 TND 14.43

-37.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$13.28 TND 38.46

-17.92%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.1

$1.72 TND 4.97

59.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.56

$2.48 TND 7.17

-51.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.00 TND 2.90

62.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.9

$0.71 TND 2.06

123.94%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.75

$0.58 TND 1.68

141.38%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.20

$0.71 TND 2.06

64.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.62

$0.52 TND 1.52

26.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.24

$0.28 TND 0.81

89.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$3.43 TND 9.95

36.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿610

$6.80 TND 19.69

174.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.11 TND 3.21

62.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$0.89 TND 2.58

262.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.28

$0.15 TND 0.44

500.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$10.26 TND 29.70

87.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.96

$0.31 TND 0.90

354.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.16

$0.20 TND 0.57

545.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$7.25 TND 20.99

8.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.62

$0.84 TND 2.42

51.19%

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

$21.3K ฿695.5K

$35.0K TND 101.4K

-39.23%

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

$22.2K ฿726.1K

$34.8K TND 100.8K

-36.17%

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

$69.1 ฿2,258

$24.06 TND 69.7

187.07%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$9.67 TND 27.99

45.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$14.59 TND 42.24

23.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,342

$16.85 TND 48.81

143.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$16.60 TND 48.09

-58.07%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$4.16 TND 12.06

42.31%

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

$299 ฿9,775

$50.8 TND 147

489.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.8K

$2,476 TND 7,171

503.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,788

$34.35 TND 99.5

59.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿875

$43.72 TND 127

-38.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,778

$34.50 TND 99.9

146.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,308

$65.4 TND 189

8.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$117 TND 339

265.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,759

$67.7 TND 196

250.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$283 TND 819

183.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.9K

$208 TND 603

147.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$984 TND 2,850

100.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$647 TND 1,873

128.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$290 TND 839

113.06%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.6

-63.24%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Djerba: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $117 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 113% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $21.00 in Djerba. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $174 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

Chiang Mai costs about 89% 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $686 in Djerba. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $50.8 in Djerba. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 42% 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.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $457 in Djerba, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Djerba costs $457 versus $866 in Chiang Mai. 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 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.