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 $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $589 in Malabo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,225 in Malabo, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,862 in Malabo, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 46% more than Malabo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Malabo are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Malabo 56% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.9

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$69.9 FCFA 40.1K

-73.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$8.68 FCFA 4,978

-13.82%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$5.20 FCFA 2,984

-61.15%

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

$0.85 ฿28.52

$0.90 FCFA 517

-5.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.97

$0.91 FCFA 521

-60.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$2.84 FCFA 1,628

-41.90%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.05

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$4.11 FCFA 2,358

-52.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿545

$6.80 FCFA 3,901

138.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$6.71 FCFA 3,848

-55.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$7.49 FCFA 4,297

46.06%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.27

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.8

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.56

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.47

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.51

$0.93 FCFA 531

-27.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.74

$1.26 FCFA 724

-55.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$4.48 FCFA 2,568

3.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.6

$1.46 FCFA 838

27.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.70

$1.30 FCFA 748

-32.31%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿651

$26.74 FCFA 15.3K

-27.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.92

$0.84 FCFA 482

61.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿45.00

$0.80 FCFA 459

67.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$8.80 FCFA 5,047

-6.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.20

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

$21.4K ฿718.5K

$33.5K FCFA 19.2M

-36.21%

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

$22.5K ฿758.1K

$29.5K FCFA 16.9M

-23.71%

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

$70.7 ฿2,378

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

$14.04 ฿472

$17.49 FCFA 10.0K

-19.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿589

$17.52 FCFA 10.0K

-0.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,418

$34.61 FCFA 19.8K

21.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$14.94 FCFA 8,566

-53.95%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$5.54 FCFA 3,177

6.86%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.7K

$357 FCFA 204.8K

4067.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,876

$26.55 FCFA 15.2K

110.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿879

$134 FCFA 76.6K

-80.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,793

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,371

$89.8 FCFA 51.5K

-21.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$267 FCFA 152.9K

62.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,040

$124 FCFA 70.9K

93.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$958 FCFA 549.3K

-14.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$520 FCFA 298.4K

-1.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$846 FCFA 485.0K

126.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.4K

$645 FCFA 369.7K

127.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.8

-26.47%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Malabo: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $267 in Malabo. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $70.0 in Malabo. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $147 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 46% more than Malabo, 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 $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $883 in Malabo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Malabo, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 38% less in Malabo. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 65% 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.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $861 in Chiang Mai and $589 in Malabo, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Malabo costs $589 versus $861 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.