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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $678 in Malabo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,146 in Malabo, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,613 in Malabo, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 40% more than Malabo, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chiang Mai and Malabo are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Malabo 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.5

$8.73 FCFA 4,927

-76.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿646

$70.9 FCFA 40.0K

-72.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿186

$8.85 FCFA 4,994

-36.16%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.3

$4.80 FCFA 2,710

-62.29%

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

$0.71 ฿23.44

$0.85 FCFA 481

-16.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.38

$0.45 FCFA 256

-28.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿73.5

$1.80 FCFA 1,015

24.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿119

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿64.4

$2.90 FCFA 1,636

-32.41%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.38

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.92

$1.76 FCFA 993

-23.86%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿74.4

$4.00 FCFA 2,258

-43.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿534

$6.56 FCFA 3,701

147.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.1

$6.13 FCFA 3,459

-51.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿327

$7.30 FCFA 4,121

36.16%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿84.5

$2.45 FCFA 1,384

4.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿34.72

$1.74 FCFA 984

-39.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.0

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.96

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿41.76

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.05

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.67

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.72

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿138

$4.40 FCFA 2,481

-4.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿587

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿55.7

$1.41 FCFA 798

19.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿93.2

$0.92 FCFA 519

208.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.42

$1.79 FCFA 1,011

-48.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,770

$26.36 FCFA 14.9K

104.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.58

$0.87 FCFA 491

41.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿18.96

$0.91 FCFA 513

-36.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿79.7

$8.66 FCFA 4,887

-72.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.42

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

$21.4K ฿704.9K

$33.2K FCFA 18.7M

-35.36%

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

$27.3K ฿898.5K

$30.0K FCFA 16.9M

-8.92%

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

$17.67 FCFA 9,973

-27.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿665

$17.92 FCFA 10.1K

12.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,274

$35.99 FCFA 20.3K

7.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

$14.58 FCFA 8,231

-72.77%

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿221

$5.42 FCFA 3,057

24.35%

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

$778 ฿25.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿480.2K

$359 FCFA 202.6K

3970.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,785

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿836

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,101

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,414

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,510

$232 FCFA 130.9K

24.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.4K

$348 FCFA 196.4K

156.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.0K

$291 FCFA 164.3K

77.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.3K

$841 FCFA 474.8K

132.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿48.5K

$656 FCFA 370.4K

125.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿19.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

6.8

-18.09%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Last update for Malabo: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $71.0 in Malabo. Groceries tell a different story – $240 in Chiang Mai vs $156 in Malabo – so Malabo wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Malabo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 40% more than Malabo, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. 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 $1,017 in Malabo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Public transport costs about 104% less in Malabo. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 54% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Malabo, where all-in costs run around $678, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Malabo 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. Malabo costs $678 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 Malabo. 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.