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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $793 in Hawassa, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,222 in Hawassa, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,650 in Hawassa, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 10% more than Hawassa, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Chiang Mai and Hawassa are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Hawassa 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$4.45 ETB 705

-55.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$35.62 ETB 5,645

-47.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$6.63 ETB 1,051

16.89%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$1.25 ETB 198

53.60%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$0.63 ETB 99.5

25.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$0.43 ETB 68.9

-16.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$1.02 ETB 162

116.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$2.99 ETB 474

22.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$1.45 ETB 230

13.79%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$1.30 ETB 205

25.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$1.02 ETB 162

16.67%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$1.53 ETB 243

30.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$6.99 ETB 1,108

128.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$13.85 ETB 2,196

-78.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$13.16 ETB 2,086

-17.48%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$6.79 ETB 1,076

-59.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$0.97 ETB 153

21.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$2.16 ETB 343

-24.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$0.98 ETB 155

55.10%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$0.69 ETB 109

100.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$1.81 ETB 288

-34.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$0.70 ETB 111

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$0.64 ETB 101

-12.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$4.09 ETB 648

11.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

$5.56 ETB 881

197.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

$1.00 ETB 159

83.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

$1.91 ETB 303

67.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$1.43 ETB 227

-4.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$0.29 ETB 46.44

362.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$1.95 ETB 309

302.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$1.23 ETB 196

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$54.8K ETB 8.7M

-60.57%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$54.4K ETB 8.6M

-58.56%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$161 ETB 25.6K

-56.32%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$11.88 ETB 1,882

15.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$129 ETB 20.4K

-86.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$5.78 ETB 917

-0.17%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$80.9 ETB 12.8K

279.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$40.4K ETB 6.4M

-63.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$47.67 ETB 7,556

17.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$75.4 ETB 12.0K

-65.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$92.9 ETB 14.7K

-7.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$116 ETB 18.4K

-37.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

$500 ETB 79.3K

196.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-70.59%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Last update for Hawassa: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $36.00 in Hawassa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $257 – 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 Hawassa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 10% more than Hawassa, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. 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 $1,190 in Hawassa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $36.00 in Hawassa. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 7% cheaper in Chiang Mai – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $869 in Chiang Mai and $793 in Hawassa, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Hawassa costs $793 versus $869 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 Hawassa. 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.