Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Ife

For one person, living is cheaper in Ife: $79.8 a month against $935 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $10,300 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

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Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$935

/mo nomad

Ife

🇳🇬 Nigeria

$79.8

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Ife

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Ife actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $935 per month in Chiang Mai vs $80 in Ife, rent included.

Chiang Mai $935
Ife $80

A couple spends around $1,467 per month in Chiang Mai vs $107 in Ife, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,467
Ife $107

A family of three spends $1,999 per month in Chiang Mai vs $134 in Ife, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,999
Ife $134

Chiang Mai costs about 1073% more than Ife, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Ife are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Ife 94% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.13 ฿71.2

$2.05 ₦2,756

3.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.62 ฿622

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.60 ฿187

$5.88 ₦7,903

-4.76%

Cappuccino

$1.66 ฿55.5

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

$0.65 ฿21.59

$0.48 ₦642

35.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ฿10.18

$0.29 ₦385

3.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 ฿77.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$2.02 ฿67.3

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ฿47.00

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.46

Eggs

$2.37 ฿79.0

$1.78 ₦2,396

33.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.52 ฿551

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.67 ฿89.1

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.02 ฿301

Apples (1kg)

$2.40 ฿80.1

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 ฿34.76

Oranges (1kg)

$1.66 ฿55.4

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 ฿52.0

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.31

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.27

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 ฿25.43

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿17.16

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.12 ฿138

Wine (Bottle)

$17.93 ฿598

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 ฿54.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 ฿94.2

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿31.19

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$52.9 ฿1,766

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ฿39.28

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.17 ฿5.72

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 ฿60.5

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ฿49.16

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

$21.0K ฿701.4K

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

$26.5K ฿885.1K

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

$62.6 ฿2,088

$29.73 ₦40.0K

110.43%

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

$11.60 ฿387

$5.84 ₦7,848

98.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.30 ฿678

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.88 ฿1,264

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.70 ฿123

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 ฿217

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

$727 ฿24.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.6K ฿553.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.5 ฿1,787

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.80 ฿828

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.4 ฿3,017

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.0 ฿2,402

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$481 ฿16.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$310 ฿10.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,058 ฿35.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$659 ฿22.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,418 ฿80.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,609 ฿53.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: November 1, 2026

Last update for Ife: October 31, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$310 33.1%

Ife

–

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$237 25.3%

Ife

–

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$108 11.6%

Ife

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Ife

–

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$77 8.2%

Ife

–

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$59 6.3%

Ife

–

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$51 5.4%

Ife

–

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇳🇬 Ife

🕒 Local time

06:07 6:07 AM

00:07 12:07 AM

6 h behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

501,952

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Nigerian Naira NGN ₦

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 3 USD

100 THB = 2.67 EUR

10,000 NGN = 7.44 USD

10,000 NGN = 6.62 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

NGN, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 33.38 THB (100 THB = 3 USD). 1 EUR = 37.47 THB (100 THB = 2.67 EUR).

Nigerian Naira exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 1,345 NGN (10,000 NGN = 7.44 USD). 1 EUR = 1,510 NGN (10,000 NGN = 6.62 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai Ife 10,200 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Ife

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Ife: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 1073% more than Ife, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $120 in Ife. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $935 in Chiang Mai and $80 in Ife. That makes Ife about 91% cheaper.

Groceries cost about 3219% more in Chiang Mai, though the gap depends on what you buy.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $935 in Chiang Mai and $80 in Ife, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $80 in Ife to $935 in Chiang Mai. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.