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 $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $512 in Kumasi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $844 in Kumasi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,176 in Kumasi, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 82% more than Kumasi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Kumasi are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Kumasi 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.5

$3.55 GHS 40.73

-41.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿655

$35.33 GHS 406

-44.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$10.74 GHS 123

-47.21%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.3

$1.09 GHS 12.56

66.06%

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

$0.77 ฿25.65

$0.73 GHS 8.43

5.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.53

$0.27 GHS 3.13

29.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.9

$0.99 GHS 11.39

123.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

$1.78 GHS 20.40

112.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.4

$1.90 GHS 21.78

7.89%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.6

$1.70 GHS 19.53

-11.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.69

$1.72 GHS 19.69

-18.60%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

$2.44 GHS 27.96

-7.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

$5.85 GHS 67.2

176.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.7

$4.49 GHS 51.5

-35.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$5.00 GHS 57.4

88.40%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.4

$1.71 GHS 19.62

56.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.37

$0.90 GHS 10.38

21.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.0

$0.84 GHS 9.62

92.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.74

$2.21 GHS 25.33

-33.94%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.65

$1.69 GHS 19.43

-24.26%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.31

$1.35 GHS 15.48

-21.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.94

$0.77 GHS 8.82

-6.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.56

$0.61 GHS 6.98

-13.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$0.85 GHS 9.79

397.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿611

$1.28 GHS 14.70

1328.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$1.28 GHS 14.70

27.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.8

$2.34 GHS 26.84

23.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.32

$0.53 GHS 6.11

66.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

$20.67 GHS 237

160.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.14

$0.84 GHS 9.67

39.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.30

$1.34 GHS 15.33

-56.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

$1.76 GHS 20.22

35.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.41

$1.11 GHS 12.78

30.63%

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

$21.0K ฿701.4K

$8,149 GHS 93.6K

157.84%

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

$26.4K ฿882.0K

$9,811 GHS 112.6K

169.32%

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

$63.7 ฿2,125

$43.15 GHS 495

47.51%

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

$12.89 ฿430

$19.77 GHS 227

-34.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿685

$43.20 GHS 496

-52.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,302

$30.53 GHS 351

27.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿220

$13.01 GHS 149

-49.42%

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

$784 ฿26.2K

$458 GHS 5,257

71.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

$5,431 GHS 62.3K

170.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,840

$14.62 GHS 168

276.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿826

$19.24 GHS 221

28.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,142

$36.89 GHS 424

155.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,469

$54.0 GHS 620

36.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,620

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.1K

$420 GHS 4,825

43.14%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

26.75

-79.18%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Kumasi: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 43% 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 $35.00 in Kumasi. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $168 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 82% 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 $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $768 in Kumasi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Kindergarten costs $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $458 in Kumasi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 44% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Kumasi, where all-in costs run around $512, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Kumasi 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. Kumasi costs $512 versus $932 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.