Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and El Kef Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and El Kef

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $572 in El Kef, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $900 in El Kef, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,228 in El Kef, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 66% more than El Kef, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and El Kef are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, El Kef 58% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.5

$3.51 TND 10.16

-40.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿646

$13.57 TND 39.24

44.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿186

$5.03 TND 14.54

12.33%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.3

$0.67 TND 1.93

170.15%

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

$0.71 ฿23.44

$0.55 TND 1.58

29.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.38

$0.23 TND 0.66

39.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿73.5

$0.90 TND 2.61

148.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿119

$1.00 TND 2.89

263.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿64.4

$0.44 TND 1.28

345.45%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.38

$0.25 TND 0.73

500.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.92

$1.40 TND 4.04

-4.29%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿74.4

$1.50 TND 4.35

50.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿534

$12.63 TND 36.52

28.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.1

$5.62 TND 16.25

-47.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿327

$14.00 TND 40.47

-29.00%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿84.5

$1.79 TND 5.18

43.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿34.72

$1.69 TND 4.88

-37.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.0

$1.05 TND 3.03

53.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.96

$0.60 TND 1.74

153.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿41.76

$0.39 TND 1.14

225.64%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.05

$0.18 TND 0.52

494.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.67

$0.55 TND 1.58

30.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.72

$0.32 TND 0.93

59.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿138

$3.37 TND 9.75

24.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿587

$4.55 TND 13.17

292.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿55.7

$0.71 TND 2.04

138.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿93.2

$1.03 TND 2.97

175.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.42

$0.35 TND 1.02

165.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,770

$10.46 TND 30.23

414.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.58

$0.31 TND 0.89

296.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿18.96

$0.30 TND 0.87

93.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿79.7

$7.67 TND 22.19

-68.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.42

$0.86 TND 2.49

63.95%

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

$21.4K ฿704.9K

$40.1K TND 116.0K

-46.55%

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

$27.3K ฿898.5K

$37.0K TND 107.0K

-26.11%

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

$63.7 ฿2,093

$27.75 TND 80.3

129.44%

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

$12.85 ฿423

$9.54 TND 27.58

34.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿665

$14.54 TND 42.05

39.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,274

$28.43 TND 82.2

36.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

$14.10 TND 40.78

-71.84%

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿221

$4.58 TND 13.26

47.16%

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

$778 ฿25.6K

$69.9 TND 202

1012.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿480.2K

$2,495 TND 7,213

485.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,785

$24.03 TND 69.5

125.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿836

$45.35 TND 131

-43.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,101

$41.85 TND 121

125.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,414

$66.2 TND 192

10.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.1K

$222 TND 642

120.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,510

$163 TND 472

77.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.4K

$391 TND 1,130

128.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.0K

$286 TND 827

80.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.3K

$968 TND 2,799

101.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿48.5K

$648 TND 1,874

127.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿19.8K

$169 TND 488

256.57%

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 El Kef: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $222 in El Kef. 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 257% 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 $14.00 in El Kef. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $240 vs $175 – making El Kef 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 El Kef: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 66% more than El Kef, 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 $1,421 per month in Chiang Mai and $859 in El Kef. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in El Kef, 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 $69.9 in El Kef. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 37% 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.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in El Kef, where all-in costs run around $572, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In El Kef it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. El Kef costs $572 versus $947 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 El Kef. 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.