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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $901 in Khartoum, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,390 in Khartoum, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,880 in Khartoum, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 4% cheaper than Khartoum, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chiang Mai and Khartoum are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Khartoum 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$7.55 SDG 4,521

-74.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$33.55 SDG 20.1K

-44.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$7.86 SDG 4,706

-0.51%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.04 SDG 1,218

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.41 SDG 2,042

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$2.37 SDG 1,418

-17.72%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.58 SDG 349

46.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.40 SDG 240

-12.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.59 SDG 955

7.55%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$1.32 SDG 787

23.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$3.39 SDG 2,027

-66.37%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$2.82 SDG 1,686

-31.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$14.75 SDG 8,831

9.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$6.35 SDG 3,801

-50.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$7.00 SDG 4,188

55.71%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$4.89 SDG 2,926

-43.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$1.24 SDG 741

-2.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$2.53 SDG 1,514

-35.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$1.86 SDG 1,114

-14.52%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$1.35 SDG 806

3.70%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$1.02 SDG 611

14.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.65 SDG 389

-18.46%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.02 SDG 2,405

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.95 SDG 2,363

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$1.49 SDG 889

214.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.68 SDG 406

32.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$24.82 SDG 14.9K

-22.60%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$3.40 SDG 2,032

-58.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$1.02 SDG 611

26.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$10.14 SDG 6,067

-22.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$1.37 SDG 819

-7.30%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$16.5K SDG 9.9M

34.82%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$52.6 SDG 31.5K

31.31%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$9.35 SDG 5,594

50.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$70.6 SDG 42.2K

-74.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$32.99 SDG 19.7K

24.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$3.89 SDG 2,331

52.19%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$88.6 SDG 53.1K

237.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$1,850 SDG 1.1M

708.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$14.77 SDG 8,841

270.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$55.4 SDG 33.1K

53.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$53.4 SDG 32.0K

32.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$628 SDG 375.9K

-31.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$293 SDG 175.4K

-18.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$1,243 SDG 743.8K

-35.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$501 SDG 300.0K

2.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$2,145 SDG 1.3M

-7.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$1,249 SDG 747.5K

18.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$196 SDG 117.1K

215.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-80.77%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Khartoum: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $628 in Khartoum. 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 216% higher in Chiang Mai, 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 Khartoum. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $216 in Khartoum – so Khartoum 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 Khartoum: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Khartoum costs about 4% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,351 in Khartoum. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $88.6 in Khartoum. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 14% cheaper in Khartoum – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Khartoum at $901. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Khartoum it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $901 in Khartoum. 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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Khartoum makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.