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 $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $987 in Ibb, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,658 in Ibb, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,329 in Ibb, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 12% cheaper than Ibb, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Ibb are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Ibb 26% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$6.85 YER 1,633

-71.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$40.65 YER 9,687

-54.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$12.50 YER 2,978

-37.44%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$2.08 YER 495

-6.25%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$1.60 YER 382

-46.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.50 YER 119

-30.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$3.26 YER 778

-47.55%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$1.16 YER 276

40.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$4.74 YER 1,131

-75.95%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$6.43 YER 1,531

-69.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$9.11 YER 2,172

77.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$12.60 YER 3,002

-75.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$27.63 YER 6,585

-60.55%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$5.80 YER 1,382

-52.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$2.17 YER 517

-44.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$6.45 YER 1,537

-74.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$3.67 YER 876

-56.68%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$2.32 YER 554

-39.66%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$2.02 YER 481

-42.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$0.78 YER 186

-15.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$1.40 YER 334

-62.14%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.34 YER 795

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$4.04 YER 963

16.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$2.08 YER 496

-32.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$3.99 YER 952

-68.17%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$90.8 YER 21.6K

-23.95%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$15.33 YER 3,652

-8.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$77.6 YER 18.5K

-76.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$80.6 YER 19.2K

-49.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

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

$299 ฿9,766

$28.67 YER 6,833

943.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$3,323 YER 791.9K

349.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$29.35 YER 6,993

86.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$48.95 YER 11.7K

73.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$57.5 YER 13.7K

22.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$216 YER 51.5K

98.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$160 YER 38.2K

48.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$571 YER 136.1K

40.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$395 YER 94.1K

30.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$352 YER 83.9K

75.46%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Ibb: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 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 75% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $41.00 in Ibb. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $379 – 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 14% 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 $1,300 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 $19.00 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 54% more in Ibb, 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 $987 in Ibb, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 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.