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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $812 in Ibadan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,520 in Ibadan, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,229 in Ibadan, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 7% more than Ibadan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Ibadan are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Ibadan 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$1.83 ₦2,488

6.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$29.27 ₦39.8K

-36.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$5.47 ₦7,426

42.96%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$1.03 ₦1,405

89.32%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.29 ₦395

193.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.19 ₦260

84.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$0.76 ₦1,035

180.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$1.26 ₦1,714

196.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$2.35 ₦3,187

-27.23%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$1.15 ₦1,563

41.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$2.06 ₦2,802

-44.66%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$1.72 ₦2,330

12.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$4.37 ₦5,943

270.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$4.29 ₦5,827

-27.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$4.18 ₦5,684

160.77%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$2.47 ₦3,357

11.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$1.21 ₦1,648

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.24 ₦1,679

30.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$1.63 ₦2,214

-2.45%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$2.16 ₦2,934

-35.19%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$1.55 ₦2,109

-24.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$0.92 ₦1,254

-28.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.32 ₦439

65.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$1.26 ₦1,705

272.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$1.02 ₦1,384

1729.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$0.63 ₦858

185.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$0.89 ₦1,211

262.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.36 ₦483

150.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$36.42 ₦49.5K

-47.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$1.24 ₦1,681

13.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$1.04 ₦1,417

24.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$3.68 ₦5,005

113.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$0.57 ₦769

122.81%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$9,512 ₦12.9M

123.69%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$14.2K ₦19.2M

56.81%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$20.99 ₦28.5K

229.06%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$7.46 ₦10.1K

88.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$19.75 ₦26.8K

-8.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$29.50 ₦40.1K

39.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$2.67 ₦3,628

121.72%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$50.4 ₦68.5K

492.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$1,910 ₦2.6M

682.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$18.37 ₦24.9K

197.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$24.43 ₦33.2K

9.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$43.76 ₦59.4K

94.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$29.58 ₦40.2K

138.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$451 ₦612.8K

-5.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$433 ₦588.5K

-45.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$1,214 ₦1.6M

-33.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$1,291 ₦1.8M

-60.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$846 ₦1.1M

133.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$28.82 ₦39.1K

5017.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$55.9 ₦75.9K

1005.35%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Ibadan: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $451 in Ibadan. 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 1005% 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 $29.00 in Ibadan. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $154 in Ibadan – so Ibadan wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Ibadan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 7% more than Ibadan, 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 $1,218 in Ibadan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ibadan, 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 $50.4 in Ibadan. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 60% 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 $812 in Ibadan, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ibadan costs $812 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 Ibadan. 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.