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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,721 in Honiara, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,821 in Honiara, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,921 in Honiara, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 46% cheaper than Honiara, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Chiang Mai sits 32% below the global median, while Honiara is 26% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.5

$6.84 SBD 54.7

-69.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿655

$62.4 SBD 499

-68.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$12.52 SBD 100

-54.71%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.3

$3.34 SBD 26.73

-45.81%

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

$0.77 ฿25.65

$1.58 SBD 12.64

-51.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.53

$1.08 SBD 8.61

-67.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.9

$2.56 SBD 20.48

-13.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

$5.66 SBD 45.28

-33.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.4

$2.61 SBD 20.88

-21.46%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.6

$1.47 SBD 11.76

2.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.69

$1.60 SBD 12.83

-12.50%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

$5.68 SBD 45.41

-60.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

$6.62 SBD 53.0

144.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.7

$8.44 SBD 67.5

-65.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$15.17 SBD 121

-37.90%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.4

$6.36 SBD 50.9

-57.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.37

$2.63 SBD 21.06

-58.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.0

$8.73 SBD 69.9

-81.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.74

$3.78 SBD 30.25

-61.38%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.65

$1.95 SBD 15.57

-34.36%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.31

$3.54 SBD 28.33

-70.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.94

$1.47 SBD 11.79

-51.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.56

$1.08 SBD 8.64

-50.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$4.30 SBD 34.36

-1.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿611

$10.54 SBD 84.3

73.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$1.78 SBD 14.23

-8.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.8

$3.41 SBD 27.26

-14.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.32

$0.39 SBD 3.10

125.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

$24.96 SBD 200

115.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.14

$1.24 SBD 9.89

-5.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.30

$1.28 SBD 10.24

-54.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

$12.52 SBD 100

-80.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.41

$1.30 SBD 10.41

11.54%

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

$21.0K ฿701.4K

$18.5K SBD 148.2K

13.41%

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

$26.4K ฿882.0K

$35.4K SBD 283.2K

-25.38%

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

$63.7 ฿2,125

$442 SBD 3,535

-85.60%

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

$12.89 ฿430

$27.75 SBD 222

-53.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿685

$92.2 SBD 737

-77.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,302

$38.16 SBD 305

2.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

$9.40 SBD 75.2

-58.30%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿220

$4.33 SBD 34.60

51.96%

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

$784 ฿26.2K

$99.9 SBD 799

684.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

$2,821 SBD 22.6K

420.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,840

$26.99 SBD 216

104.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿826

$95.3 SBD 762

-74.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,142

$96.9 SBD 775

-2.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,469

$105 SBD 836

-29.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

$912 SBD 7,290

-46.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,620

$442 SBD 3,533

-34.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.8K

$1,896 SBD 15.2K

-53.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

$1,443 SBD 11.5K

-63.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

$86.7K SBD 693.6K

-97.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

$63.3K SBD 506.5K

-97.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.1K

$720 SBD 5,759

-16.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

15.67

-64.45%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Honiara: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $912 in Honiara. 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 20% higher in Honiara, 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $62.0 in Honiara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $348 – 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 Honiara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Honiara costs about 85% 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 $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,581 in Honiara. 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 $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $99.9 in Honiara. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 44% more in Honiara, 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 $932, than in Honiara at $1,721. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Honiara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $932 versus $1,721 in Honiara. 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, Honiara makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.