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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $987 in Ibb, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,625 in Ibb, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,263 in Ibb, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 13% cheaper than Ibb, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Ibb are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Ibb 26% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.9

$6.79 YER 1,606

-71.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$41.32 YER 9,781

-55.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$12.77 YER 3,023

-41.43%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$2.03 YER 480

-0.49%

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

$0.85 ฿28.52

$1.67 YER 395

-49.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.97

$0.53 YER 126

-32.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$3.29 YER 778

-49.85%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$1.17 YER 277

34.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.05

$4.82 YER 1,140

-75.31%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$6.53 YER 1,545

-70.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿545

$9.58 YER 2,268

69.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$12.30 YER 2,912

-75.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$27.51 YER 6,512

-60.23%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$5.71 YER 1,352

-52.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.27

$2.14 YER 507

-45.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.8

$6.26 YER 1,482

-73.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$3.73 YER 883

-57.10%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.56

$2.30 YER 545

-40.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.47

$2.10 YER 496

-42.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.51

$0.77 YER 182

-12.99%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.74

$1.46 YER 346

-61.64%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.43 YER 813

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$4.18 YER 988

11.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.70

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿651

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.92

$2.06 YER 488

-33.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿45.00

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.20

$4.06 YER 961

-69.95%

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

$21.4K ฿718.5K

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

$22.5K ฿758.1K

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

$70.7 ฿2,378

$91.3 YER 21.6K

-22.59%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$15.57 YER 3,685

-9.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿589

$76.6 YER 18.1K

-77.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,418

$82.2 YER 19.4K

-48.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$29.42 YER 6,963

948.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.7K

$3,391 YER 802.6K

338.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,876

$28.45 YER 6,735

95.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿879

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,793

$48.93 YER 11.6K

69.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,371

$58.1 YER 13.7K

21.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$216 YER 51.2K

99.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,040

$161 YER 38.2K

47.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$586 YER 138.7K

40.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$396 YER 93.7K

29.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$354 YER 83.8K

63.67%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Ibb: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $216 in Ibb. 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 64% higher in Chiang Mai, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $41.00 in Ibb. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $380 – 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 Ibb: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ibb costs about 15% 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 $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,480 in Ibb. 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Chiang Mai and $41.00 in Ibb. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 56% more in Ibb, 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 $861, than in Ibb at $987. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ibb it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $861 versus $987 in Ibb. 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, Ibb makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.