Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Kano

For one person, living is cheaper in Kano: $96.9 a month against $935 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $10,100 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

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Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$935

/mo nomad

Kano

🇳🇬 Nigeria

$96.9

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Kano

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Kano actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $935 per month in Chiang Mai vs $97 in Kano, rent included.

Chiang Mai $935
Kano $97

A couple spends around $1,467 per month in Chiang Mai vs $179 in Kano, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,467
Kano $179

A family of three spends $1,999 per month in Chiang Mai vs $262 in Kano, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,999
Kano $262

Chiang Mai costs about 866% more than Kano, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Kano are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Kano 93% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.13 ฿71.4

$1.72 ₦2,314

23.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.62 ฿623

$15.21 ₦20.4K

22.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.60 ฿187

$6.31 ₦8,468

-11.25%

Cappuccino

$1.66 ฿55.6

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

$0.65 ฿21.63

$0.19 ₦248

242.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ฿10.20

$0.15 ₦197

100.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 ฿77.7

$0.31 ₦420

648.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿123

$0.29 ₦383

1165.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.02 ฿67.4

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ฿47.08

$0.65 ₦868

116.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.54

$0.55 ₦736

152.73%

Eggs

$2.37 ฿79.2

$0.89 ₦1,190

166.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.52 ฿552

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.67 ฿89.3

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.02 ฿302

Apples (1kg)

$2.40 ฿80.2

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 ฿34.82

Oranges (1kg)

$1.66 ฿55.5

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 ฿52.1

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.39

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.34

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 ฿25.47

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿17.19

$0.59 ₦787

-13.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.12 ฿138

Wine (Bottle)

$17.93 ฿600

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 ฿54.3

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 ฿94.4

$0.31 ₦418

809.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿31.25

$0.27 ₦360

244.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$52.9 ฿1,769

$12.22 ₦16.4K

332.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ฿39.35

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.17 ฿5.73

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 ฿60.6

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ฿49.25

$0.48 ₦642

206.25%

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

$21.0K ฿702.6K

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

$26.5K ฿886.7K

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

$62.6 ฿2,092

$7.34 ₦9,854

752.32%

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

$11.60 ฿388

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.30 ฿679

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.88 ฿1,267

$20.20 ₦27.1K

87.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.70 ฿124

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 ฿218

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

$727 ฿24.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.6K ฿554.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.5 ฿1,790

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.80 ฿829

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.4 ฿3,023

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.0 ฿2,407

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$481 ฿16.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$310 ฿10.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,058 ฿35.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$659 ฿22.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,418 ฿80.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,609 ฿53.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

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: November 1, 2026

Last update for Kano: October 31, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$310 33.1%

Kano

–

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$237 25.3%

Kano

–

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$108 11.6%

Kano

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Kano

–

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$77 8.2%

Kano

–

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$59 6.3%

Kano

–

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$51 5.4%

Kano

–

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $15 in Kano. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $237 vs $20 – making Kano the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇳🇬 Kano

🕒 Local time

16:24 4:24 PM

10:24 10:24 AM

6 h behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

2,395,375

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Nigerian Naira NGN ₦

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.99 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

10,000 NGN = 7.45 USD

10,000 NGN = 6.63 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

NGN, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 33.44 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.56 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Nigerian Naira exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 1,342 NGN (10,000 NGN = 7.45 USD). 1 EUR = 1,507 NGN (10,000 NGN = 6.63 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Chiang Mai Kano 9,630 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Kano

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 866% more than Kano, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $145 in Kano. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Public transport costs about 77% less in Kano. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 1091% more in Chiang Mai, though the gap depends on what you buy.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $935 in Chiang Mai and $97 in Kano, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $97 in Kano to $935 in Chiang Mai. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.