Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Lagos

For one person, living costs are similar in Chiang Mai and in Lagos: $938 and $951 a month, rent and utilities included.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index
46

Cost of Living Index in Lagos
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Lagos Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$938

/mo nomad

Lagos

🇳🇬 Nigeria

$951

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Lagos

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Lagos actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $938 per month in Chiang Mai vs $951 in Lagos, rent included.

Chiang Mai $938
Lagos $951

A couple spends around $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,859 in Lagos, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,426
Lagos $1,859

A family of three spends $1,914 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,768 in Lagos, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,914
Lagos $2,768

Chiang Mai is about 1% cheaper than Lagos, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Lagos are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 30% lower, Lagos 30% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.26 ฿75.4

$3.82 ₦5,082

-40.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.18 ฿641

$50.8 ₦67.5K

-62.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.59 ฿187

$7.38 ₦9,815

-24.25%

Cappuccino

$1.72 ฿57.6

$2.83 ₦3,768

-39.22%

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

$0.64 ฿21.54

$0.43 ₦577

48.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ฿11.18

$0.22 ₦291

50.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 ฿78.7

$1.01 ₦1,348

133.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.90 ฿130

$2.02 ₦2,692

93.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.6

$3.10 ₦4,120

-33.87%

White Bread (500g)

$1.40 ฿46.70

$1.50 ₦1,989

-6.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.89

$1.25 ₦1,669

2.40%

Eggs

$2.25 ฿75.3

$2.27 ₦3,013

-0.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.94 ฿566

$3.44 ₦4,578

392.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.74 ฿91.6

$3.79 ₦5,040

-27.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.36 ฿313

$4.58 ₦6,093

104.37%

Apples (1kg)

$2.40 ฿80.3

$1.70 ₦2,255

41.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.01 ฿33.92

$1.29 ₦1,716

-21.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.9

$1.11 ₦1,475

45.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.7

$1.29 ₦1,718

17.83%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.90

$1.37 ₦1,823

-6.57%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 ฿37.22

$1.36 ₦1,803

-18.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿24.09

$0.85 ₦1,128

-15.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.54

$0.40 ₦528

30.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.33 ฿145

$0.60 ₦793

621.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.73 ฿593

$2.52 ₦3,346

603.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$0.54 ₦721

201.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.85 ฿95.3

$0.46 ₦612

519.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 ฿28.31

$0.40 ₦532

112.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,801

$19.73 ₦26.2K

173.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.18

$0.65 ₦864

80.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.57 ฿19.00

$0.95 ₦1,270

-40.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.37 ฿79.2

$2.25 ₦2,987

5.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.32

$0.83 ₦1,098

74.70%

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

$20.5K ฿684.3K

$11.1K ₦14.8M

84.26%

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

$26.5K ฿886.1K

$13.6K ₦18.1M

94.39%

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

$62.3 ฿2,083

$113 ₦150.7K

-45.00%

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

$12.27 ฿410

$15.08 ₦20.1K

-18.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.97 ฿668

$33.09 ₦44.0K

-39.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.91 ฿1,267

$28.10 ₦37.4K

34.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.76 ฿126

$6.79 ₦9,027

-44.62%

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿224

$6.19 ₦8,237

8.40%

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

$797 ฿26.6K

$659 ₦877.1K

20.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿495.7K

$19.5K ₦26.0M

-24.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.3 ฿1,780

$14.85 ₦19.8K

258.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.05 ฿837

$17.95 ₦23.9K

39.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.6 ฿3,062

$36.30 ₦48.3K

152.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.5 ฿2,455

$48.95 ₦65.1K

50.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$464 ฿15.5K

$704 ₦936.6K

-34.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$305 ฿10.2K

$417 ₦554.1K

-26.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$915 ฿30.6K

$2,825 ₦3.8M

-67.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$552 ฿18.5K

$1,516 ₦2.0M

-63.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,912 ฿63.9K

$3,283 ₦4.4M

-41.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,438 ฿48.1K

$1,597 ₦2.1M

-9.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

$117 ₦155.2K

410.24%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

18.39

-69.71%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 13, 2026

Last update for Lagos: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$305 32.5%

Lagos

$417 43.8% 36.7% $112

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$238 25.4%

Lagos

$154 16.2% 35.4% $84

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$110 11.7%

Lagos

$53 5.6% 51.5% $56

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$95 10.1%

Lagos

$161 17% 70.7% $67

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$79 8.4%

Lagos

$98 10.4% 24.6% $19

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.5%

Lagos

$27 2.8% 56.4% $35

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$51 5.5%

Lagos

$40 4.3% 21.1% $11

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $464 in Chiang Mai versus $704 in Lagos. 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 410% 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 $51.0 in Lagos. Groceries tell a different story – $238 in Chiang Mai vs $154 in Lagos – so Lagos wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇳🇬 Lagos

🕒 Local time

21:58 9:58 PM

15:58 3:58 PM

6 h behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

10,404,112

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Nigerian Naira NGN ₦

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.99 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

10,000 NGN = 7.52 USD

10,000 NGN = 6.69 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

NGN, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.58 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Nigerian Naira exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 1,330 NGN (10,000 NGN = 7.52 USD). 1 EUR = 1,496 NGN (10,000 NGN = 6.69 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai Lagos 10,360 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Lagos

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Lagos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lagos costs about 1% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,408 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,426 in Lagos. 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 $797 per month in Chiang Mai and $659 in Lagos. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 55% cheaper in Lagos – 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 $938, than in Lagos at $951. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lagos it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $938 versus $951 in Lagos. 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, Lagos makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.