Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Maiduguri

For one person, living is cheaper in Maiduguri: $170 a month against $925 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $9,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

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Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$925

/mo nomad

Maiduguri

🇳🇬 Nigeria

$170

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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 Maiduguri actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $925 per month in Chiang Mai vs $170 in Maiduguri, rent included.

Chiang Mai $925
Maiduguri $170

A couple spends around $1,414 per month in Chiang Mai vs $284 in Maiduguri, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,414
Maiduguri $284

A family of three spends $1,903 per month in Chiang Mai vs $398 in Maiduguri, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,903
Maiduguri $398

Chiang Mai costs about 444% more than Maiduguri, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Maiduguri are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Maiduguri 87% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.29 ฿76.5

$0.51 ₦673

349.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿656

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.61 ฿188

$1.83 ₦2,433

206.56%

Cappuccino

$1.66 ฿55.6

$0.89 ₦1,178

86.52%

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

$0.70 ฿23.40

$0.27 ₦361

159.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.24

$0.19 ₦249

63.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿80.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 ฿124

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ฿65.3

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ฿47.03

$1.03 ₦1,368

36.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.31 ฿43.62

$1.95 ₦2,598

-32.82%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿72.9

$1.75 ₦2,326

24.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.65 ฿556

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.76 ฿92.2

$4.90 ₦6,515

-43.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.11 ฿304

$4.04 ₦5,375

125.50%

Apples (1kg)

$2.39 ฿80.0

$4.08 ₦5,430

-41.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.03 ฿34.26

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿54.4

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.0

$0.97 ₦1,291

54.64%

Potato (1kg)

$1.29 ฿43.13

$1.48 ₦1,973

-12.84%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 ฿37.03

$1.01 ₦1,349

9.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿24.08

$0.39 ₦514

84.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.59

$0.31 ₦417

70.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.31 ฿144

Wine (Bottle)

$17.95 ฿600

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 ฿52.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿95.0

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 ฿28.86

$0.36 ₦485

138.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.3 ฿1,780

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 ฿40.29

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.57 ฿18.99

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.35 ฿78.6

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.96

$0.25 ₦331

476.00%

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

$20.7K ฿692.8K

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

$26.8K ฿895.7K

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

$62.3 ฿2,083

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

$12.11 ฿405

$7.92 ₦10.5K

52.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.94 ฿666

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.07 ฿1,239

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.78 ฿126

$7.89 ₦10.5K

-52.09%

Cinema Ticket

$6.50 ฿217

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

$793 ฿26.5K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿494.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.7 ฿1,796

$20.38 ₦27.1K

163.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.62 ฿823

$17.88 ₦23.8K

37.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.9 ฿3,036

$25.37 ₦33.7K

258.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.1 ฿2,378

$24.82 ₦33.0K

186.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$455 ฿15.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$298 ฿9,954

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$908 ฿30.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$554 ฿18.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,931 ฿64.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,445 ฿48.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$591 ฿19.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 17, 2026

Last update for Maiduguri: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$298 32.2%

Maiduguri

–

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$235 25.5%

Maiduguri

–

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$108 11.7%

Maiduguri

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.2%

Maiduguri

–

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$79 8.5%

Maiduguri

–

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Maiduguri

–

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Maiduguri

–

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇳🇬 Maiduguri

🕒 Local time

19:43 7:43 PM

13:43 1:43 PM

6 h behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

1,197,497

💱 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 20, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Nigerian Naira exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 1,330 NGN (10,000 NGN = 7.52 USD). 1 EUR = 1,495 NGN (10,000 NGN = 6.69 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Chiang Mai Maiduguri 9,150 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Maiduguri

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 Maiduguri: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 444% more than Maiduguri, 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 $1,388 per month in Chiang Mai and $255 in Maiduguri. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $925 in Chiang Mai and $170 in Maiduguri. That's a gap of about 444%.

Groceries cost about 138% 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 $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Maiduguri, where all-in costs run around $170, than in Chiang Mai at $925. In Maiduguri 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. Maiduguri costs $170 versus $925 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 Maiduguri. 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.