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 $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $172 in Maiduguri, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $292 in Maiduguri, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $412 in Maiduguri, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 452% more than Maiduguri, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Maiduguri are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Maiduguri 88% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.6

$0.53 ₦706

292.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿646

$3.79 ₦4,999

418.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿186

$1.90 ₦2,508

197.37%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.4

$0.93 ₦1,223

94.62%

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

$0.71 ฿23.45

$0.22 ₦291

222.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.38

$0.19 ₦255

68.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿73.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿119

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿64.4

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.39

$1.03 ₦1,355

45.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.93

$1.96 ₦2,590

-31.63%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿74.5

$1.85 ₦2,437

22.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿535

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.1

$4.88 ₦6,449

-39.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿327

$4.04 ₦5,334

146.04%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿84.6

$3.93 ₦5,188

-34.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿34.73

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.0

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.97

$0.99 ₦1,302

53.54%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿41.77

$1.52 ₦2,002

-16.45%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.06

$1.02 ₦1,343

4.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.68

$0.42 ₦551

71.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.72

$0.29 ₦378

75.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿138

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿587

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿55.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿93.3

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.43

$0.35 ₦467

165.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,771

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.59

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿18.96

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿79.7

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.43

$0.27 ₦360

422.22%

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

$21.4K ฿705.1K

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

$27.3K ฿898.7K

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

$63.7 ฿2,093

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

$12.85 ฿423

$7.83 ₦10.3K

64.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿665

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,274

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

$8.11 ₦10.7K

-51.05%

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿222

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

$778 ฿25.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿480.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,785

$19.91 ₦26.3K

172.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿837

$18.28 ₦24.1K

39.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,102

$25.39 ₦33.5K

271.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,415

$25.12 ₦33.2K

192.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,512

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿48.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿19.8K

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: August 31, 2026

Last update for Maiduguri: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $4.00 in Maiduguri. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $240 vs $98.0 – 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 452% 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 $1,421 per month in Chiang Mai and $257 in Maiduguri. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $947 in Chiang Mai and $172 in Maiduguri. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 145% 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 $172, than in Chiang Mai at $947. 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 $172 versus $947 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.