😐A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $501 in Migori, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $852 in Migori, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,202 in Migori, rent included.
😐Chiang Mai costs about 73% more than Migori, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Migori are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai35% lower, Migori63% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Migori
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.98฿64.3
$5.44KES 705
-63.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.80฿612
$37.93KES 4,918
-50.44%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.75฿252
$6.71KES 870
15.50%
Cappuccino
$1.92฿62.5
$2.45KES 318
-21.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79฿25.79
$0.76KES 98.7
3.95%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36฿11.62
$0.51KES 65.5
-29.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.21฿72.1
$2.33KES 302
-5.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66฿119
$2.89KES 375
26.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Migori
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65฿53.8
$0.94KES 122
75.53%
White Bread(500g)
$1.63฿53.2
$0.58KES 74.6
181.03%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.19฿38.86
$1.66KES 215
-28.31%
Eggs
$2.00฿65.1
$1.69KES 219
18.34%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.98฿520
$11.58KES 1,501
38.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.03฿98.5
$6.63KES 860
-54.30%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86฿354
$5.51KES 714
97.10%
Apples(1kg)
$2.76฿90.0
$3.18KES 412
-13.21%
Banana(1kg)
$1.18฿38.42
$1.08KES 141
9.26%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.64฿53.5
$2.18KES 282
-24.77%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.52฿49.51
$1.02KES 132
49.02%
Potato(1kg)
$1.38฿45.10
$1.08KES 140
27.78%
Onion(1kg)
$1.19฿38.84
$1.11KES 144
7.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.70฿22.86
$0.69KES 89.2
1.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56฿18.13
$0.80KES 104
-30.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.58฿149
$3.05KES 396
50.16%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.56฿539
$11.40KES 1,478
45.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83฿59.5
$2.29KES 297
-20.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20฿104
$2.71KES 352
18.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Migori
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.88฿28.56
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.72฿610
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.36฿44.16
$1.57KES 203
-13.38%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.34฿43.65
$1.58KES 205
-15.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.84฿256
$2.97KES 385
163.97%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.23฿39.92
$1.54KES 199
-20.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K฿704.3K
$21.4KKES 2.8M
0.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K฿734.3K
$19.7KKES 2.6M
14.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Migori
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.5฿2,298
$35.04KES 4,544
101.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.68฿445
$16.63KES 2,156
-17.74%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.45฿568
$39.83KES 5,164
-56.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Migori
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.33฿1,346
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.96฿227
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.77฿188
$6.31KES 818
-8.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Migori
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$307฿10.0K
$204KES 26.5K
50.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.6K฿475.9K
$7,950KES 1.0M
83.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Migori
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8฿1,817
$18.41KES 2,387
203.04%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.21฿854
$23.96KES 3,106
9.39%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.8฿2,793
$66.5KES 8,626
28.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.2฿2,353
$57.0KES 7,396
26.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Migori
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$430฿14.0K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$239฿7,774
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$817฿26.6K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$511฿16.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,983฿64.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,484฿48.3K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Migori
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$619฿20.2K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
14.84
-66.31%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026
Last update for Migori: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $38.00 in Migori. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $207 in Migori – so Migori 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 Migori: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Migori?
Chiang Mai costs about 73% more than Migori, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai vs Migori?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $752 in Migori. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do dining costs compare in Chiang Mai vs Migori?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $38.00 in Migori. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or Migori?
Groceries cost about 17% 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.
Can you live on $1,200/month in Chiang Mai or Migori?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $869 in Chiang Mai and $501 in Migori, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Migori?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Migori costs $501 versus $869 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Migori?
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.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or Migori?
If budget matters most, go with Migori. 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.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared