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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $440 in Kumasi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $721 in Kumasi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,003 in Kumasi, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 94% more than Kumasi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Kumasi are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Kumasi 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$2.79 GHS 31.24

-29.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$32.18 GHS 360

-41.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$7.85 GHS 87.8

0.89%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$0.87 GHS 9.74

119.54%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$0.60 GHS 6.76

40.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.23 GHS 2.58

52.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$0.83 GHS 9.27

166.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$1.54 GHS 17.26

146.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.79 GHS 20.08

-8.38%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$1.44 GHS 16.13

12.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$1.63 GHS 18.23

-27.61%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$2.19 GHS 24.46

-8.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$5.75 GHS 64.3

176.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$4.40 GHS 49.19

-31.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$4.91 GHS 55.0

119.35%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$1.67 GHS 18.72

56.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$0.81 GHS 9.03

50.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$0.78 GHS 8.72

117.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$1.89 GHS 21.16

-16.40%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$1.68 GHS 18.82

-21.43%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$1.13 GHS 12.62

3.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$0.74 GHS 8.32

-9.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.48 GHS 5.35

16.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$0.85 GHS 9.52

432.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$1.25 GHS 14.03

1356.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$1.11 GHS 12.39

64.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.89 GHS 21.19

70.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$0.39 GHS 4.32

128.21%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

$20.12 GHS 225

-3.68%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$0.80 GHS 8.99

68.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$1.22 GHS 13.61

10.66%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$1.69 GHS 18.90

388.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$1.10 GHS 12.27

15.45%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$8,058 GHS 90.2K

162.55%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$9,490 GHS 106.2K

136.95%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$40.42 GHS 452

73.55%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$13.03 GHS 146

5.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$38.10 GHS 426

-53.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$28.57 GHS 320

45.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$9.50 GHS 106

-39.16%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$72.1 GHS 807

324.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$5,431 GHS 60.8K

172.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$14.38 GHS 161

278.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$18.52 GHS 207

41.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$28.81 GHS 322

193.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$41.09 GHS 460

68.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

$314 GHS 3,518

102.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

25.4

-80.31%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Last update for Kumasi: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 102% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $32.00 in Kumasi. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $155 in Kumasi – so Kumasi 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 Kumasi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 94% more than Kumasi, 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 $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $659 in Kumasi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Kindergarten costs $306 per month in Chiang Mai and $72.1 in Kumasi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 57% 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.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $440 in Kumasi, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kumasi costs $440 versus $852 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 Kumasi. 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.