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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $920 per month in Chiang Mai vs $466 in Ilesha, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,408 per month in Chiang Mai vs $798 in Ilesha, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,895 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,129 in Ilesha, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 98% more than Ilesha, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Ilesha are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 33% lower, Ilesha 66% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.11 ฿69.1

$3.66 ₦4,930

-42.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.75 ฿648

$49.25 ₦66.3K

-59.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.85 ฿192

$7.59 ₦10.2K

-22.92%

Cappuccino

$1.76 ฿57.8

$2.75 ₦3,701

-36.00%

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

$0.74 ฿24.37

$0.44 ₦588

68.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ฿10.90

$0.25 ₦337

32.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.47 ฿81.0

$0.99 ₦1,329

149.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 ฿127

$1.97 ₦2,657

96.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ฿62.4

$3.16 ₦4,260

-39.87%

White Bread (500g)

$1.67 ฿54.7

$1.47 ₦1,975

13.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.35 ฿44.24

$1.26 ₦1,691

7.14%

Eggs

$2.14 ฿70.2

$2.14 ₦2,883

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿521

$3.59 ₦4,836

342.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.83 ฿92.9

$3.80 ₦5,116

-25.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.53 ฿345

$4.47 ₦6,023

135.57%

Apples (1kg)

$2.38 ฿78.2

$1.61 ₦2,163

47.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.01

$1.26 ₦1,703

-15.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.79

$1.13 ₦1,520

34.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿49.30

$1.27 ₦1,712

18.11%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿41.96

$1.35 ₦1,821

-5.19%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.17

$1.30 ₦1,751

-15.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 ฿22.54

$0.82 ₦1,102

-15.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.18

$0.39 ₦521

25.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿140

$0.57 ₦761

649.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.78 ฿550

$2.60 ₦3,494

545.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 ฿54.4

$0.52 ₦702

219.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 ฿92.3

$0.45 ₦604

524.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.44

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.9 ฿1,801

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 ฿39.24

$0.64 ₦862

87.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 ฿17.78

$0.94 ₦1,268

-42.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.37 ฿77.9

$2.08 ₦2,804

13.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 ฿46.88

$0.81 ₦1,091

76.54%

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

$21.1K ฿691.5K

$11.2K ₦15.1M

88.09%

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

$27.1K ฿890.2K

$13.3K ₦17.9M

104.62%

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

$64.7 ฿2,124

$110 ₦148.7K

-41.41%

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

$13.19 ฿433

$16.16 ₦21.7K

-18.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.44 ฿638

$25.41 ₦34.2K

-23.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.45 ฿1,294

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿124

Cinema Ticket

$6.62 ฿217

$4.50 ₦6,052

47.11%

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

$805 ฿26.4K

$657 ₦884.3K

22.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿496.1K

$19.7K ₦26.5M

-23.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.8 ฿1,796

$14.44 ₦19.4K

279.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.43 ฿834

$20.48 ₦27.6K

24.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.9 ฿3,015

$36.30 ₦48.9K

153.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.7 ฿2,449

$51.7 ₦69.6K

44.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$467 ฿15.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$282 ฿9,251

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,985 ฿65.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,462 ฿48.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$592 ฿19.4K

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: August 17, 2026

Last update for Ilesha: August 17, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $49.00 in Ilesha. Groceries tell a different story – $237 in Chiang Mai vs $153 in Ilesha – so Ilesha 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 Ilesha: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 98% more than Ilesha, 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 $1,380 per month in Chiang Mai and $699 in Ilesha. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $49.00 in Ilesha. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 55% 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 $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ilesha, where all-in costs run around $466, than in Chiang Mai at $920. In Ilesha 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. Ilesha costs $466 versus $920 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 Ilesha. 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.