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 $920 per month in Chiang Mai vs $527 in Isiolo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,408 per month in Chiang Mai vs $876 in Isiolo, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,895 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,226 in Isiolo, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 75% more than Isiolo, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chiang Mai and Isiolo are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 33% lower, Isiolo 62% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.11 ฿69.1

$5.55 KES 718

-61.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.75 ฿648

$34.56 KES 4,472

-42.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.85 ฿192

$6.30 KES 816

-7.14%

Cappuccino

$1.76 ฿57.8

$2.80 KES 363

-37.14%

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

$0.74 ฿24.37

$0.63 KES 81.8

17.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ฿10.90

$0.53 KES 67.9

-37.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.47 ฿81.0

$2.29 KES 296

7.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 ฿127

$2.68 KES 347

44.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ฿62.4

$0.85 KES 110

123.53%

White Bread (500g)

$1.67 ฿54.7

$0.56 KES 73.0

198.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.35 ฿44.24

$1.84 KES 239

-26.63%

Eggs

$2.14 ฿70.2

$1.65 KES 213

29.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿521

$10.66 KES 1,380

49.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.83 ฿92.9

$6.62 KES 857

-57.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.53 ฿345

$6.33 KES 819

66.35%

Apples (1kg)

$2.38 ฿78.2

$3.16 KES 409

-24.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.01

$0.99 KES 128

8.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.79

$1.97 KES 255

-22.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿49.30

$1.02 KES 131

47.06%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿41.96

$1.00 KES 130

28.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.17

$0.95 KES 123

15.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 ฿22.54

$0.66 KES 84.9

4.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.18

$0.72 KES 93.3

-31.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿140

$3.43 KES 444

24.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.78 ฿550

$11.57 KES 1,498

45.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 ฿54.4

$2.29 KES 297

-27.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 ฿92.3

$2.81 KES 364

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

$1.53 KES 198

-21.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 ฿17.78

$1.58 KES 204

-65.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.37 ฿77.9

$2.88 KES 373

-17.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 ฿46.88

$1.39 KES 180

2.88%

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

$21.1K ฿691.5K

$18.7K KES 2.4M

12.87%

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

$27.1K ฿890.2K

$19.3K KES 2.5M

40.29%

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

$64.7 ฿2,124

$55.7 KES 7,213

16.15%

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

$13.19 ฿433

$15.51 KES 2,007

-14.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.44 ฿638

$34.29 KES 4,437

-43.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.45 ฿1,294

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿124

Cinema Ticket

$6.62 ฿217

$7.87 KES 1,018

-15.88%

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

$805 ฿26.4K

$240 KES 31.1K

234.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿496.1K

$11.0K KES 1.4M

37.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.8 ฿1,796

$26.64 KES 3,447

105.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.43 ฿834

$25.38 KES 3,285

0.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.9 ฿3,015

$63.1 KES 8,167

45.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.7 ฿2,449

$59.8 KES 7,736

24.85%

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

$760 KES 98.3K

-22.05%

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: August 17, 2026

Last update for Isiolo: August 18, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 28% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $35.00 in Isiolo. Groceries tell a different story – $237 in Chiang Mai vs $203 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 75% 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 $1,380 per month in Chiang Mai and $791 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $35.00 in Isiolo. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 17% 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 $527, than in Chiang Mai at $920. 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 $527 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 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.