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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $926 per month in Chiang Mai vs $539 in Isiolo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,381 per month in Chiang Mai vs $876 in Isiolo, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,214 in Isiolo, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 72% more than Isiolo, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chiang Mai and Isiolo are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Isiolo 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿70.8

$4.73 KES 613

-55.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.22 ฿647

$34.12 KES 4,424

-43.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.47 ฿184

$6.07 KES 787

-9.88%

Cappuccino

$1.69 ฿56.8

$2.72 KES 352

-37.87%

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

$0.65 ฿21.78

$0.59 KES 76.5

10.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.36

$0.63 KES 81.8

-50.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 ฿78.1

$2.35 KES 305

-1.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 ฿132

$2.62 KES 340

49.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.07 ฿69.6

$0.86 KES 112

140.70%

White Bread (500g)

$1.53 ฿51.6

$0.57 KES 74.2

168.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.25 ฿42.08

$1.93 KES 250

-35.23%

Eggs

$2.19 ฿73.8

$1.67 KES 216

31.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.94 ฿537

$10.77 KES 1,396

48.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.76 ฿93.0

$6.47 KES 839

-57.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.74 ฿328

$6.40 KES 829

52.19%

Apples (1kg)

$2.66 ฿89.4

$3.18 KES 412

-16.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.05 ฿35.45

$1.03 KES 134

1.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.66 ฿55.8

$1.97 KES 256

-15.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.48 ฿49.67

$1.13 KES 147

30.97%

Potato (1kg)

$1.21 ฿40.88

$1.10 KES 143

10.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿37.09

$1.03 KES 133

6.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 ฿25.59

$0.68 KES 87.9

11.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.72

$0.74 KES 95.4

-32.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.38 ฿147

$3.52 KES 457

24.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.50 ฿589

$11.42 KES 1,480

53.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 ฿55.9

$2.29 KES 297

-27.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿93.5

$2.80 KES 363

-0.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 ฿28.99

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.7 ฿1,809

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.22 ฿41.01

$1.57 KES 203

-22.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.56 ฿18.87

$1.53 KES 198

-63.40%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.34 ฿78.9

$2.94 KES 381

-20.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.75

$1.43 KES 185

1.40%

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

$21.1K ฿708.9K

$21.4K KES 2.8M

-1.41%

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

$26.3K ฿885.5K

$20.1K KES 2.6M

31.15%

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

$63.6 ฿2,141

$61.9 KES 8,020

2.81%

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

$12.56 ฿423

$15.49 KES 2,008

-18.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.04 ฿675

$35.16 KES 4,559

-43.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.73 ฿1,304

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.80 ฿128

Cinema Ticket

$6.47 ฿218

$7.93 KES 1,028

-18.41%

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

$777 ฿26.2K

$252 KES 32.6K

208.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿490.8K

$11.8K KES 1.5M

23.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.2 ฿1,859

$28.60 KES 3,708

93.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.77 ฿834

$28.49 KES 3,695

-13.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.3 ฿3,040

$68.9 KES 8,926

31.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.5 ฿2,476

$59.3 KES 7,689

23.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$466 ฿15.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$286 ฿9,635

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$866 ฿29.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$525 ฿17.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,978 ฿66.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,461 ฿49.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$581 ฿19.6K

$761 KES 98.6K

-23.62%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

14.71

-62.13%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 26, 2026

Last update for Isiolo: September 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 31% higher in Isiolo, 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 $34.00 in Isiolo. Groceries tell a different story – $238 in Chiang Mai vs $205 in Isiolo – so Isiolo 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 Isiolo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 72% more than Isiolo, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,388 per month in Chiang Mai and $809 in Isiolo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $34.00 in Isiolo. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 16% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Isiolo, where all-in costs run around $539, than in Chiang Mai at $926. In Isiolo 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. Isiolo costs $539 versus $926 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 Isiolo. 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.