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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $106 in Kano, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $186 in Kano, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $266 in Kano, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 801% more than Kano, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Kano are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Kano 92% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$1.72 ₦2,281

22.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$14.75 ₦19.5K

34.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$6.17 ₦8,174

-6.16%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$0.20 ₦267

290.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$0.15 ₦205

106.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$0.31 ₦411

654.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$0.31 ₦416

1093.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$0.65 ₦861

146.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$0.54 ₦716

162.96%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$0.87 ₦1,148

150.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$0.58 ₦774

-13.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

$0.31 ₦416

835.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

$0.29 ₦387

224.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

$12.38 ₦16.4K

346.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$0.52 ₦687

176.92%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$7.39 ₦9,798

778.62%

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

$13.35 ฿441

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$6.41 ₦8,498

224.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

$20.66 ₦27.4K

95.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

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

$787 ฿26.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

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 Kano: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $15.00 in Kano. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $20.00 – making Kano 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 Kano: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 801% more than Kano, 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 $158 in Kano. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Public transport costs about 347% less in Kano. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 1126% 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 Kano, where all-in costs run around $106, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Kano 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. Kano costs $106 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 Kano. 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.