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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $676 in Hargeysa, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,015 in Hargeysa, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,353 in Hargeysa, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 28% more than Hargeysa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Hargeysa are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Hargeysa 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.6

$2.62 SOS 1,488

-25.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$15.25 SOS 8,664

22.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿256

$5.45 SOS 3,094

43.49%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.9

$1.15 SOS 651

69.57%

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

$0.85 ฿27.80

$0.91 SOS 516

-6.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.60

$0.48 SOS 273

-27.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.7

$10.07 SOS 5,719

-78.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$10.13 SOS 5,756

-63.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.27 SOS 720

34.65%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.3

$0.78 SOS 445

108.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.18

$1.69 SOS 960

-32.54%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.2

$2.75 SOS 1,561

-29.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$1.96 SOS 1,111

727.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$6.15 SOS 3,494

-49.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$4.57 SOS 2,598

138.51%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.1

$3.35 SOS 1,902

-17.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.56

$1.96 SOS 1,113

-38.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$2.60 SOS 1,476

-37.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.9

$0.84 SOS 479

89.29%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.75

$0.99 SOS 561

41.41%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.20

$1.36 SOS 773

-13.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.62

$0.52 SOS 297

26.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.24

$0.76 SOS 429

-30.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$0.97 SOS 553

383.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿610

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.28

$0.27 SOS 152

233.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$29.45 SOS 16.7K

-34.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.96

$3.02 SOS 1,713

-53.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.16

$0.88 SOS 501

46.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$7.06 SOS 4,011

11.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.62

$1.06 SOS 599

19.81%

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

$21.3K ฿695.5K

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

$22.2K ฿726.1K

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

$69.1 ฿2,258

$110 SOS 62.4K

-37.12%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$7.46 SOS 4,236

88.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$27.30 SOS 15.5K

-34.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,342

$35.11 SOS 19.9K

16.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$8.83 SOS 5,015

-21.18%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$5.07 SOS 2,881

16.77%

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

$299 ฿9,775

$36.97 SOS 21.0K

708.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.8K

$604 SOS 343.1K

2375.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,788

$22.63 SOS 12.9K

141.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿875

$19.91 SOS 11.3K

34.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,778

$19.83 SOS 11.3K

328.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,308

$29.85 SOS 17.0K

136.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$187 SOS 106.1K

129.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,759

$123 SOS 69.6K

93.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$444 SOS 252.0K

80.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.9K

$247 SOS 140.4K

108.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$4,939 SOS 2.8M

-60.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$269 SOS 152.6K

129.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-75.00%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Hargeysa: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $187 in Hargeysa. 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 130% 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 $15.00 in Hargeysa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $149 – making Hargeysa 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 Hargeysa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 28% more than Hargeysa, 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 $1,014 in Hargeysa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Hargeysa, 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 $36.97 in Hargeysa. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 66% 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 $676 in Hargeysa, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Hargeysa costs $676 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 Hargeysa. 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.