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 $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $889 in Khartoum, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,383 in Khartoum, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,876 in Khartoum, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 3% cheaper than Khartoum, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chiang Mai and Khartoum are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Khartoum 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.9

$7.35 SDG 4,400

-73.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$33.51 SDG 20.1K

-45.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$7.96 SDG 4,763

-6.03%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.95 SDG 1,168

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 SDG 2,000

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$2.32 SDG 1,386

-12.93%

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

$0.85 ฿28.52

$0.59 SDG 354

44.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.97

$0.40 SDG 240

-10.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$1.59 SDG 950

3.77%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$1.38 SDG 825

13.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.05

$3.34 SDG 2,000

-64.37%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$2.92 SDG 1,749

-33.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿545

$14.62 SDG 8,751

10.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$6.34 SDG 3,797

-52.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$6.75 SDG 4,038

62.07%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$5.00 SDG 2,991

-45.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.27

$1.27 SDG 757

-7.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.8

$2.59 SDG 1,553

-34.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$1.77 SDG 1,058

-9.60%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.56

$1.34 SDG 804

2.99%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.47

$1.07 SDG 638

12.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.51

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.74

$0.62 SDG 370

-9.68%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.11 SDG 2,460

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 SDG 2,369

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$1.53 SDG 917

203.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.70

$0.69 SDG 410

27.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿651

$25.15 SDG 15.1K

-23.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.92

$3.56 SDG 2,128

-61.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿45.00

$0.99 SDG 592

35.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$9.82 SDG 5,876

-16.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.20

$1.36 SDG 811

-10.29%

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

$21.4K ฿718.5K

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

$22.5K ฿758.1K

$16.4K SDG 9.8M

37.04%

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

$70.7 ฿2,378

$52.1 SDG 31.2K

35.70%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$9.32 SDG 5,581

50.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿589

$70.1 SDG 41.9K

-75.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,418

$33.63 SDG 20.1K

25.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$3.91 SDG 2,339

51.41%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$88.9 SDG 53.2K

247.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.7K

$1,903 SDG 1.1M

681.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,876

$14.69 SDG 8,792

279.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿879

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,793

$53.9 SDG 32.3K

54.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,371

$53.2 SDG 31.9K

32.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$636 SDG 380.7K

-32.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,040

$292 SDG 174.7K

-18.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$1,237 SDG 740.1K

-33.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$503 SDG 300.9K

1.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$1,014 SDG 606.8K

88.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.4K

$867 SDG 519.1K

69.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$189 SDG 113.1K

206.69%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Khartoum: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $636 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 207% 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $34.00 in Khartoum. Groceries tell a different story – $243 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 3% 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 $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,334 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 $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $88.9 in Khartoum. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 13% 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 $861, than in Khartoum at $889. 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 $861 versus $889 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.