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 $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $822 in Hawassa, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,230 in Hawassa, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,638 in Hawassa, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 4% more than Hawassa, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Chiang Mai and Hawassa are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Hawassa 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$4.41 ETB 689

-55.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$35.09 ETB 5,484

-46.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$6.58 ETB 1,029

20.36%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$1.23 ETB 193

55.28%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$0.64 ETB 100

31.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.43 ETB 67.5

-18.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$1.02 ETB 160

116.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$2.97 ETB 464

27.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.39 ETB 218

17.99%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$1.34 ETB 209

20.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$1.03 ETB 161

14.56%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$1.60 ETB 251

25.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$7.21 ETB 1,127

120.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$13.92 ETB 2,175

-78.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$13.28 ETB 2,075

-18.90%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$6.76 ETB 1,057

-61.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$0.97 ETB 152

25.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$2.16 ETB 338

-21.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$0.90 ETB 141

75.56%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$0.67 ETB 105

97.01%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$1.91 ETB 299

-38.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$0.68 ETB 107

-1.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.63 ETB 98.1

-11.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$4.02 ETB 629

12.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$5.76 ETB 900

215.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$1.00 ETB 156

83.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.84 ETB 288

75.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$1.49 ETB 233

-9.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$0.27 ETB 42.05

400.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$2.05 ETB 320

302.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$1.24 ETB 194

2.42%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$55.1K ETB 8.6M

-61.62%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$53.0K ETB 8.3M

-57.58%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$158 ETB 24.7K

-55.61%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$11.98 ETB 1,872

14.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$131 ETB 20.5K

-86.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$5.54 ETB 866

4.33%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$81.7 ETB 12.8K

274.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$40.9K ETB 6.4M

-63.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$47.79 ETB 7,470

13.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$75.0 ETB 11.7K

-65.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$92.5 ETB 14.5K

-8.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$116 ETB 18.2K

-40.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

$503 ETB 78.5K

203.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Hawassa: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $35.00 in Hawassa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $258 – 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 4% 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 $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,232 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 $35.00 in Hawassa. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 6% 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 $852 in Chiang Mai and $822 in Hawassa, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Hawassa costs $822 versus $852 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.