😐A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $516 in Migori, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $848 in Migori, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,180 in Migori, rent included.
😐Chiang Mai costs about 65% more than Migori, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Migori are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai36% lower, Migori61% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Migori
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.04฿68.2
$5.54KES 716
-63.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.71฿624
$39.32KES 5,082
-52.42%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.86฿262
$6.88KES 889
14.24%
Cappuccino
$2.03฿67.7
$2.43KES 314
-16.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80฿26.64
$0.76KES 98.5
5.26%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35฿11.68
$0.54KES 70.3
-35.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.14฿71.5
$2.33KES 301
-8.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.67฿122
$2.91KES 376
26.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Migori
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.73฿57.6
$0.92KES 119
88.04%
White Bread(500g)
$1.57฿52.4
$0.58KES 74.5
170.69%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.20฿39.99
$1.59KES 205
-24.53%
Eggs
$1.97฿65.8
$1.63KES 210
20.86%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.23฿541
$11.40KES 1,473
42.37%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.06฿102
$6.82KES 882
-55.13%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.80฿360
$5.72KES 739
88.81%
Apples(1kg)
$2.77฿92.3
$3.02KES 391
-8.28%
Banana(1kg)
$1.17฿38.94
$1.08KES 140
8.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.71฿57.0
$2.16KES 280
-20.83%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.59฿53.2
$1.01KES 130
57.43%
Potato(1kg)
$1.39฿46.51
$1.04KES 134
33.65%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16฿38.56
$1.11KES 144
4.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.66฿22.05
$0.69KES 89.8
-4.35%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52฿17.31
$0.77KES 99.3
-32.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.65฿155
$3.11KES 402
49.52%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.78฿593
$11.76KES 1,521
51.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79฿59.6
$2.29KES 296
-21.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.34฿111
$2.83KES 365
18.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Migori
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.91฿30.27
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.64฿622
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41฿47.04
$1.57KES 203
-10.19%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.34฿44.70
$1.50KES 195
-10.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.11฿270
$2.97KES 384
173.06%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.23฿41.16
$1.58KES 205
-22.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K฿715.1K
$21.8KKES 2.8M
-1.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K฿728.0K
$20.0KKES 2.6M
9.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Migori
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$71.3฿2,379
$34.13KES 4,411
109.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.01฿467
$16.83KES 2,175
-16.76%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.93฿598
$38.65KES 4,995
-53.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Migori
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.82฿1,362
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88฿230
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.72฿191
$6.32KES 817
-9.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Migori
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$308฿10.3K
$200KES 25.8K
54.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.7K฿489.7K
$8,055KES 1.0M
82.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Migori
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8฿1,860
$17.95KES 2,320
210.70%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.04฿869
$24.27KES 3,137
7.29%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.8฿2,829
$65.5KES 8,464
29.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.0฿2,368
$55.5KES 7,171
27.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Migori
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$423฿14.1K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$242฿8,088
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$797฿26.6K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$507฿16.9K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,918฿64.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,464฿48.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Migori
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$595฿19.9K
-
-
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Migori: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $39.00 in Migori. Groceries tell a different story – $244 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 65% 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 and in Migori?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $775 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 and in Migori?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $39.00 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 in Migori?
Groceries cost about 18% 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 in Migori?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $516 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 $516 versus $852 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 to 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