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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $279 in Ife, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $426 in Ife, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $573 in Ife, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 240% more than Ife, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Ife are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Ife 80% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.0

$1.60 ₦2,107

31.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿653

$11.13 ₦14.7K

78.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿190

$3.66 ₦4,830

58.20%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.1

$0.27 ₦359

577.78%

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

$0.78 ฿25.49

$0.33 ₦438

136.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.32

$0.19 ₦254

63.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿76.8

$0.29 ₦376

706.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$0.35 ₦468

957.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿66.8

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.5

$0.23 ₦304

595.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.53

$0.58 ₦771

144.83%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.6

$1.32 ₦1,740

65.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿523

$1.47 ₦1,936

982.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿101

$1.62 ₦2,142

89.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿324

$1.30 ₦1,718

659.23%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.4

$1.90 ₦2,507

38.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.02

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.6

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.3

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿40.93

$0.31 ₦409

300.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.19

$0.35 ₦467

222.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.26

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.40

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿591

$2.21 ₦2,919

713.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿55.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.2

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿30.97

$0.12 ₦157

683.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,818

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.56

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.57

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿78.9

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.32

$0.14 ₦181

928.57%

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

$21.2K ฿696.8K

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

$27.3K ฿897.8K

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

$64.9 ฿2,135

$30.32 ₦40.0K

114.15%

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

$13.35 ฿439

$6.05 ₦7,976

120.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿685

$15.07 ₦19.9K

38.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,329

$7.34 ₦9,670

450.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿221

$1.51 ₦1,995

344.37%

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

$787 ฿25.9K

$15.14 ₦20.0K

5098.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿497.2K

$135 ₦178.6K

11064.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,849

$7.62 ₦10.0K

637.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿820

$11.23 ₦14.8K

122.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,048

$18.87 ₦24.9K

391.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,470

$22.29 ₦29.4K

237.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿15.9K

$184 ₦243.2K

162.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,446

$111 ₦146.3K

158.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿29.9K

$373 ₦491.3K

144.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.4K

$226 ₦298.0K

134.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿19.9K

$52.4 ₦69.1K

1055.32%

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: September 7, 2026

Last update for Ife: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $184 in Ife. 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 1055% 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 $11.00 in Ife. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $42.00 – making Ife 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 Ife: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 240% more than Ife, 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 $419 in Ife. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ife, 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 $11.00 in Ife. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 478% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Ife, where all-in costs run around $279, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Ife 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. Ife costs $279 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 Ife. 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.