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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 69.1% more expensive than Machakos without rent, and 90.7% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 34.7% more expensive than Machakos without rent, and 69.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Machakos
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.03 ฿64.0
$2.38 KES 307
-14.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.59 ฿586
$37.98 KES 4,908
-51.05%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.48 ฿236
$6.88 KES 888
8.72%
Cappuccino
$2.00 ฿63.0
$1.97 KES 254
1.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 ฿26.72
$0.70 KES 90.6
21.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.09
$0.50 KES 64.9
-30.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ฿69.8
$1.95 KES 252
13.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.76 ฿118
$2.78 KES 359
35.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Machakos
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 ฿54.2
$0.41 KES 52.8
319.51%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 ฿51.5
$0.48 KES 62.0
239.58%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 ฿36.54
$0.74 KES 95.8
56.76%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿62.4
$1.42 KES 184
39.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.93 ฿502
$11.66 KES 1,507
36.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 ฿99.9
$6.57 KES 849
-51.75%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.90 ฿344
$4.73 KES 611
130.44%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 ฿83.4
$1.59 KES 205
66.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿38.57
$0.76 KES 97.9
60.53%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.70 ฿53.5
$0.38 KES 49.02
347.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 ฿50.2
$0.37 KES 47.98
329.73%
Potato (1kg)
$1.32 ฿41.76
$0.80 KES 104
65.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ฿36.86
$0.75 KES 96.3
56.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ฿21.38
$0.70 KES 90.3
-2.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿17.58
$0.37 KES 48.31
51.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.51 ฿142
$3.13 KES 404
44.09%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.07 ฿602
$11.80 KES 1,524
61.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 ฿55.8
$1.96 KES 253
-9.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 ฿100
$2.70 KES 349
17.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Machakos
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.96 ฿30.37
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.90 ฿596
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ฿42.83
$0.81 KES 104
67.90%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿42.65
$0.78 KES 101
73.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.03 ฿253
$2.85 KES 368
181.75%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 ฿39.20
$1.50 KES 194
-17.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿667.5K
$21.4K KES 2.8M
-1.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿686.1K
$19.8K KES 2.6M
9.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Machakos
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$71.2 ฿2,247
$33.71 KES 4,356
111.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.09 ฿444
$7.88 KES 1,019
78.81%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.47 ฿551
$11.40 KES 1,473
53.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Machakos
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.07 ฿1,327
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88 ฿217
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.94 ฿187
$6.21 KES 803
-4.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Machakos
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$307 ฿9,694
$45.85 KES 5,925
570.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿466.6K
$7,881 KES 1.0M
87.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Machakos
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.7 ฿1,756
$11.68 KES 1,509
376.63%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.79 ฿845
$23.91 KES 3,090
12.05%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.2 ฿2,625
$65.7 KES 8,491
26.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.1 ฿2,211
$38.48 KES 4,972
82.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Machakos
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$427 ฿13.5K
$91.2 KES 11.8K
368.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$237 ฿7,478
$70.6 KES 9,127
235.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$802 ฿25.3K
$156 KES 20.2K
413.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$503 ฿15.9K
$118 KES 15.2K
326.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,061 ฿65.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,533 ฿48.3K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Machakos
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$654 ฿20.6K
$381 KES 49.3K
71.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
14.84
-66.31%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: March 1, 2026

Last update for Machakos: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Similar cities