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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $581 in Gafsa, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $902 in Gafsa, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,224 in Gafsa, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 61% more than Gafsa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Gafsa are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Gafsa 58% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.2

$4.02 TND 11.70

-48.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿652

$10.09 TND 29.36

94.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$2.61 TND 7.58

117.24%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.0

$0.62 TND 1.80

191.94%

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

$0.77 ฿25.55

$0.48 TND 1.41

60.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.48

$0.27 TND 0.79

29.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.6

$1.67 TND 4.86

32.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

$2.78 TND 8.09

36.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.1

$0.48 TND 1.40

327.08%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

$0.12 TND 0.36

1158.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.51

$1.73 TND 5.04

-19.08%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.1

$1.08 TND 3.13

109.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿538

$10.45 TND 30.41

54.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.3

$5.83 TND 16.95

-50.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿313

$11.46 TND 33.34

-17.80%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.1

$1.50 TND 4.36

78.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.23

$3.18 TND 9.26

-65.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

$0.84 TND 2.44

92.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.55

$0.75 TND 2.19

94.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.48

$0.72 TND 2.10

77.78%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.17

$0.50 TND 1.44

112.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.85

$0.49 TND 1.42

46.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.49

$0.30 TND 0.88

76.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$2.59 TND 7.54

63.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿608

$6.75 TND 19.62

170.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.2

$1.35 TND 3.92

20.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.5

$1.61 TND 4.68

80.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.20

$0.35 TND 1.02

151.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,788

$11.21 TND 32.61

379.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿38.99

$0.32 TND 0.94

265.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.22

$0.26 TND 0.76

123.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.3

$1.87 TND 5.43

27.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.22

$0.83 TND 2.41

74.70%

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

$21.0K ฿698.6K

$39.0K TND 113.6K

-46.18%

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

$26.4K ฿878.6K

$32.3K TND 93.8K

-18.07%

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

$63.7 ฿2,116

$41.55 TND 121

53.19%

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

$12.89 ฿429

$8.74 TND 25.43

47.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿682

$19.98 TND 58.1

2.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,297

$15.18 TND 44.15

157.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

$14.15 TND 41.15

-72.30%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$6.18 TND 17.98

6.47%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

$62.8 TND 183

1148.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿487.9K

$1,008 TND 2,933

1355.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,833

$40.50 TND 118

36.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿823

$54.7 TND 159

-54.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,130

$107 TND 311

-11.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,459

$88.7 TND 258

-16.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

$143 TND 417

242.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,582

$103 TND 299

180.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.6K

$210 TND 611

324.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

$157 TND 456

232.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.6K

$995 TND 2,895

98.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.0K

$362 TND 1,054

298.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

$314 TND 913

91.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

8.88

-37.27%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Gafsa: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $143 in Gafsa. 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 92% 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 $10.00 in Gafsa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $178 – making Gafsa 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 Gafsa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 61% more than Gafsa, 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 $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $871 in Gafsa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $62.8 in Gafsa. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 35% 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 Gafsa, where all-in costs run around $581, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Gafsa 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. Gafsa costs $581 versus $932 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 Gafsa. 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.