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 $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $429 in Kumasi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $717 in Kumasi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,006 in Kumasi, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 103% more than Kumasi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Kumasi are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Kumasi 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$2.78 GHS 30.63

-28.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$32.23 GHS 355

-41.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$7.75 GHS 85.2

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$0.82 GHS 9.07

134.15%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$0.55 GHS 6.09

43.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$0.21 GHS 2.30

71.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$0.83 GHS 9.09

166.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$1.59 GHS 17.52

130.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$1.78 GHS 19.56

-7.30%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$1.49 GHS 16.38

9.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$1.66 GHS 18.28

-28.31%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$2.18 GHS 24.02

-8.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$5.74 GHS 63.2

178.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$4.46 GHS 49.04

-32.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$4.97 GHS 54.7

118.51%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$1.67 GHS 18.39

65.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$0.78 GHS 8.58

51.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$0.78 GHS 8.60

110.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$1.98 GHS 21.82

-23.23%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$1.69 GHS 18.55

-18.34%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$1.14 GHS 12.51

4.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$0.76 GHS 8.35

-7.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$0.52 GHS 5.68

7.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$0.78 GHS 8.58

487.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

$1.24 GHS 13.60

1235.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

$1.12 GHS 12.29

63.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

$1.86 GHS 20.50

72.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$0.39 GHS 4.28

125.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

$19.86 GHS 218

-5.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$0.84 GHS 9.27

61.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$1.17 GHS 12.90

14.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$1.60 GHS 17.61

390.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$1.10 GHS 12.12

11.82%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$7,965 GHS 87.6K

171.49%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$9,648 GHS 106.1K

133.68%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$40.78 GHS 449

72.98%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$13.14 GHS 145

4.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$37.13 GHS 408

-53.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$28.70 GHS 316

44.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$9.47 GHS 104

-39.07%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$72.0 GHS 792

326.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$5,500 GHS 60.5K

165.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$14.78 GHS 163

277.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$18.51 GHS 204

41.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$29.41 GHS 324

191.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$41.83 GHS 460

72.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

$313 GHS 3,445

97.57%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Kumasi: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 98% 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 – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $157 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 103% 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 $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $643 in Kumasi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Kindergarten costs $307 per month in Chiang Mai and $72.0 in Kumasi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 54% 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 $869 in Chiang Mai and $429 in Kumasi, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kumasi costs $429 versus $869 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.