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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $461 in Garissa, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $775 in Garissa, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,089 in Garissa, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 88% more than Garissa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$6.38 KES 827

-69.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$22.95 KES 2,974

-18.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$2.67 KES 346

192.88%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$4.16 KES 539

-53.13%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$1.10 KES 143

-22.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.68 KES 87.9

-48.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$1.90 KES 246

12.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$2.65 KES 343

40.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$0.84 KES 109

103.57%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.51 KES 66.3

219.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$1.15 KES 149

-0.87%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$1.65 KES 214

16.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$6.32 KES 819

-50.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$4.25 KES 550

156.47%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$3.15 KES 408

-12.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$2.28 KES 296

-46.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$3.08 KES 399

-47.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$0.64 KES 83.4

148.44%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$0.86 KES 112

62.79%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$1.14 KES 148

2.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$0.70 KES 90.2

-5.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.44 KES 57.2

20.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$2.29 KES 297

104.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$5.66 KES 733

229.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.87 KES 243

-3.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$3.20 KES 414

0.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$2.31 KES 299

-38.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$1.08 KES 140

17.59%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$9,343 KES 1.2M

137.74%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$15.74 KES 2,040

338.82%

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

$14.08 ฿460

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$23.24 KES 3,011

-22.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$22.82 KES 2,956

79.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

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

$299 ฿9,766

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$11.81 KES 1,531

363.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$7.53 KES 976

255.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$22.75 KES 2,948

273.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$23.61 KES 3,058

199.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$99.9 KES 12.9K

328.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$77.2 KES 10.0K

207.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$191 KES 24.8K

318.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$173 KES 22.5K

197.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$128 KES 16.6K

382.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Garissa: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $99.9 in Garissa. 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 383% 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 $23.00 in Garissa. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $154 in Garissa – so Garissa 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 Garissa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 88% more than Garissa, 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 $691 in Garissa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $866 in Chiang Mai and $461 in Garissa. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 60% 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.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $461 in Garissa, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Garissa costs $461 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 Garissa. 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.