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 $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $250 in Ibadan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $558 in Ibadan, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $866 in Ibadan, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 280% more than Ibadan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Ibadan are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Ibadan 82% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$1.11 ₦1,476

89.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$30.24 ₦40.1K

-34.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$6.09 ₦8,073

-4.93%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$0.80 ₦1,066

128.75%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$0.20 ₦265

290.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$0.12 ₦153

158.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$0.58 ₦771

303.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$1.15 ₦1,528

221.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$0.59 ₦787

244.07%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$0.60 ₦791

166.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$1.11 ₦1,476

27.93%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$1.53 ₦2,034

42.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$3.52 ₦4,667

351.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$3.89 ₦5,153

-21.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$0.75 ₦993

1216.00%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$1.67 ₦2,209

57.49%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$1.32 ₦1,743

-16.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$1.13 ₦1,501

44.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$0.29 ₦382

427.59%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$0.58 ₦774

113.79%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$0.24 ₦319

370.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

$0.22 ₦290

236.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$0.14 ₦181

257.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$0.59 ₦784

625.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

$1.12 ₦1,482

1504.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

$0.41 ₦542

314.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

$0.46 ₦616

530.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

$0.12 ₦162

683.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$0.70 ₦933

75.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

$0.62 ₦827

-14.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

$1.13 ₦1,492

112.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$0.55 ₦734

161.82%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

$4,162 ₦5.5M

409.26%

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

$14.0K ₦18.5M

95.63%

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$11.27 ₦14.9K

476.13%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$3.81 ₦5,047

250.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$9.06 ₦12.0K

129.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

$21.77 ₦28.9K

85.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$1.54 ₦2,035

335.71%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$48.73 ₦64.6K

1515.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

$627 ₦831.4K

2310.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$12.16 ₦16.1K

362.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$5.80 ₦7,689

330.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$15.07 ₦20.0K

515.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$21.64 ₦28.7K

247.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$124 ₦164.4K

289.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

$45.33 ₦60.1K

533.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

$461 ₦611.0K

97.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$308 ₦408.2K

72.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

$875 ₦1.2M

126.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

$30.87 ₦40.9K

4600.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

$58.2 ₦77.2K

939.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

18.05

-69.14%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Ibadan: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $124 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 939% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $30.00 in Ibadan. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $87.0 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 280% 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 $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $375 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $30.00 in Ibadan. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 179% 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.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ibadan, where all-in costs run around $250, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Ibadan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ibadan costs $250 versus $950 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.