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 $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $800 in Ibadan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,491 in Ibadan, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,182 in Ibadan, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 8% more than Ibadan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Ibadan are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Ibadan 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$1.82 ₦2,509

7.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$28.21 ₦38.8K

-34.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$5.42 ₦7,453

38.01%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$1.00 ₦1,376

102.00%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$0.29 ₦403

193.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$0.17 ₦228

111.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

$0.81 ₦1,115

164.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$1.26 ₦1,737

184.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$2.29 ₦3,148

-27.95%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$1.15 ₦1,586

36.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$2.11 ₦2,898

-43.60%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$1.76 ₦2,426

10.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$4.27 ₦5,877

279.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$4.16 ₦5,727

-28.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$4.02 ₦5,530

172.14%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$2.43 ₦3,338

11.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$1.17 ₦1,605

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$1.23 ₦1,695

37.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$1.69 ₦2,319

-5.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$2.15 ₦2,963

-35.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$1.51 ₦2,078

-20.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$0.98 ₦1,342

-31.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$0.33 ₦448

69.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$1.26 ₦1,727

268.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$0.94 ₦1,287

1774.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

$0.67 ₦924

177.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$0.88 ₦1,207

275.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

$0.32 ₦445

175.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

$35.59 ₦49.0K

-45.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$1.20 ₦1,653

13.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

$1.05 ₦1,438

27.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$3.68 ₦5,062

123.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$0.54 ₦743

125.93%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$9,612 ₦13.2M

122.15%

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$14.4K ₦19.8M

56.29%

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$21.37 ₦29.4K

230.70%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$7.64 ₦10.5K

83.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$20.19 ₦27.8K

-13.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

$30.06 ₦41.3K

40.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$2.58 ₦3,555

129.46%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$49.94 ₦68.7K

517.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$1,865 ₦2.6M

697.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$18.39 ₦25.3K

203.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$24.84 ₦34.2K

5.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$43.22 ₦59.5K

92.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$30.12 ₦41.4K

133.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$449 ₦617.8K

-3.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

$423 ₦581.7K

-43.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$1,235 ₦1.7M

-33.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$1,282 ₦1.8M

-60.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$835 ₦1.1M

129.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

$29.39 ₦40.4K

4891.90%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$54.9 ₦75.5K

955.70%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Ibadan: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $449 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 956% 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $28.00 in Ibadan. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $152 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 8% 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 $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,200 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 $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $49.94 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 $861 in Chiang Mai and $800 in Ibadan, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ibadan costs $800 versus $861 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.