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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $191 in Maiduguri, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $345 in Maiduguri, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $498 in Maiduguri, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 353% more than Maiduguri, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Maiduguri are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Maiduguri 86% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$1.53 ₦2,083

26.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$11.78 ₦16.0K

58.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$2.71 ₦3,691

188.56%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$1.36 ₦1,846

43.38%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.37 ₦509

129.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.29 ₦400

20.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$1.01 ₦1,381

61.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$1.95 ₦2,650

-41.54%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$1.76 ₦2,397

9.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$5.07 ₦6,910

-38.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$3.99 ₦5,433

173.18%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$3.89 ₦5,294

-29.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$1.01 ₦1,379

57.43%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$1.52 ₦2,074

-7.89%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$1.03 ₦1,401

13.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$0.39 ₦525

69.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.31 ₦428

70.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.53 ₦721

69.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$0.37 ₦498

243.24%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

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

$14.08 ฿460

$7.89 ₦10.7K

78.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$7.83 ₦10.7K

-11.11%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

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

$299 ฿9,766

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$20.15 ₦27.4K

171.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$18.34 ₦25.0K

45.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$25.49 ₦34.7K

233.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$24.89 ₦33.9K

183.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Maiduguri: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $12.00 in Maiduguri. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $99.0 – making Maiduguri the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 353% more than Maiduguri, 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $287 in Maiduguri. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $866 in Chiang Mai and $191 in Maiduguri. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 149% 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.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $191 in Maiduguri, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Maiduguri costs $191 versus $866 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.