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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,076 in Gizo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,981 in Gizo, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,885 in Gizo, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 58% cheaper than Gizo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Chiang Mai sits 35% below the global median, while Gizo is 54% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$2.96 SBD 23.77

-33.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$53.7 SBD 432

-65.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$14.75 SBD 119

-47.46%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$2.67 SBD 21.44

-28.09%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$1.22 SBD 9.82

-35.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$1.17 SBD 9.37

-69.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$2.35 SBD 18.92

-5.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$2.45 SBD 19.69

49.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$3.03 SBD 24.38

-45.54%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$1.33 SBD 10.71

22.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$1.34 SBD 10.81

-11.19%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$7.01 SBD 56.4

-71.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$8.50 SBD 68.4

88.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$6.01 SBD 48.31

-49.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$8.35 SBD 67.2

30.06%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$6.62 SBD 53.3

-58.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$5.87 SBD 47.20

-79.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$5.84 SBD 46.95

-71.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$3.06 SBD 24.58

-50.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$2.91 SBD 23.41

-52.58%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$2.42 SBD 19.48

-50.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$2.43 SBD 19.53

-71.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$1.31 SBD 10.53

-57.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$4.31 SBD 34.70

6.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

$12.60 SBD 101

31.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

$1.82 SBD 14.65

0.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

$2.11 SBD 16.93

51.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$0.37 SBD 2.99

137.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

$29.69 SBD 239

-36.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$1.24 SBD 9.93

9.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$2.32 SBD 18.63

-42.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$11.77 SBD 94.6

-33.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$1.79 SBD 14.41

-31.28%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$19.9K SBD 159.8K

8.82%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$20.6K SBD 166.0K

9.25%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$708 SBD 5,697

-90.04%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$12.92 SBD 104

5.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$118 SBD 948

-85.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$17.91 SBD 144

130.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$6.06 SBD 48.78

14.85%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$4.29 SBD 34.49

34.50%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$119 SBD 955

158.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$1,205 SBD 9,690

1112.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$24.09 SBD 194

131.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$90.1 SBD 725

-70.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$96.7 SBD 778

-11.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$84.7 SBD 681

-14.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$569 SBD 4,579

-24.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$573 SBD 4,610

-58.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$603 SBD 4,846

35.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$1,182 SBD 9,510

-56.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

$86.2K SBD 693.4K

-97.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

$389 SBD 3,127

59.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.33

-69.38%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Last update for Gizo: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $569 in Gizo. 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 59% higher in Chiang Mai, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $54.0 in Gizo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $342 – making Chiang Mai 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 Gizo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Gizo costs about 139% more than Chiang Mai, 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 $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $3,115 in Gizo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $307 per month in Chiang Mai and $119 in Gizo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 42% more in Gizo, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $869, than in Gizo at $2,076. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Gizo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $869 versus $2,076 in Gizo. 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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Gizo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.