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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $625 in Kelibia, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $971 in Kelibia, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,316 in Kelibia, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 52% more than Kelibia, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Kelibia are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Kelibia 55% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$2.70 TND 7.78

-22.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$13.69 TND 39.49

44.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$3.41 TND 9.83

69.79%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$0.62 TND 1.78

195.16%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$0.49 TND 1.41

59.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$0.28 TND 0.81

10.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$1.59 TND 4.59

47.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$2.11 TND 6.08

75.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$0.42 TND 1.21

383.33%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$0.17 TND 0.50

841.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$1.39 TND 4.01

2.16%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$1.68 TND 4.84

29.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$12.65 TND 36.51

25.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$5.57 TND 16.08

-44.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$14.42 TND 41.61

-31.55%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$1.22 TND 3.51

115.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$2.80 TND 8.08

-60.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$0.74 TND 2.12

120.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$0.68 TND 1.96

125.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$0.70 TND 2.03

77.14%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$0.82 TND 2.37

37.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

$0.55 TND 1.59

34.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$0.26 TND 0.74

92.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$3.46 TND 9.98

23.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

$6.76 TND 19.52

165.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

$1.21 TND 3.49

40.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

$1.11 TND 3.21

161.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

$0.35 TND 1.02

168.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

$9.74 TND 28.12

467.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$0.32 TND 0.93

284.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

$0.32 TND 0.94

65.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

$7.43 TND 21.45

-67.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$0.86 TND 2.47

67.44%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

$37.5K TND 108.3K

-43.52%

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

$35.8K TND 103.4K

-23.80%

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$46.32 TND 134

40.18%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$9.55 TND 27.54

39.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$15.02 TND 43.35

38.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

$16.55 TND 47.75

144.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

$12.57 TND 36.28

-68.58%

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$3.49 TND 10.06

92.26%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$99.2 TND 286

693.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

$2,543 TND 7,339

494.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$43.47 TND 125

29.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$37.56 TND 108

-33.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$114 TND 329

-18.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$68.6 TND 198

9.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$219 TND 631

121.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

$147 TND 425

94.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

$434 TND 1,251

109.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$245 TND 706

116.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

$995 TND 2,871

98.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

$635 TND 1,831

128.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

$240 TND 694

151.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

13.6

-59.04%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Kelibia: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $219 in Kelibia. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 152% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $14.00 in Kelibia. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $187 – making Kelibia 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 Kelibia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 52% more than Kelibia, 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 $937 in Kelibia. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Kelibia, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $787 per month in Chiang Mai and $99.2 in Kelibia. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 29% 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 Kelibia, where all-in costs run around $625, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Kelibia 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. Kelibia costs $625 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 Kelibia. 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.