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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $920 per month in Chiang Mai vs $559 in Minna, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,408 per month in Chiang Mai vs $902 in Minna, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,895 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,245 in Minna, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 65% more than Minna, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chiang Mai and Minna are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 33% lower, Minna 59% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.11 ฿69.1

$2.13 ₦2,864

-0.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.75 ฿648

$29.26 ₦39.4K

-32.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.85 ฿192

$3.90 ₦5,253

50.00%

Cappuccino

$1.76 ฿57.8

$3.34 ₦4,503

-47.31%

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

$0.74 ฿24.37

$0.54 ₦729

37.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ฿10.90

$0.70 ₦946

-52.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.47 ฿81.0

$1.03 ₦1,384

139.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 ฿127

$2.06 ₦2,774

88.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ฿62.4

$3.62 ₦4,876

-47.51%

White Bread (500g)

$1.67 ฿54.7

$1.29 ₦1,741

29.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.35 ฿44.24

$0.71 ₦951

90.14%

Eggs

$2.14 ฿70.2

$1.79 ₦2,415

19.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿521

$11.06 ₦14.9K

43.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.83 ฿92.9

$5.26 ₦7,079

-46.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.53 ฿345

$6.04 ₦8,125

74.34%

Apples (1kg)

$2.38 ฿78.2

$2.06 ₦2,776

15.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.01

$1.50 ₦2,024

-28.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.79

$1.48 ₦1,987

2.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿49.30

$2.25 ₦3,033

-33.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿41.96

$1.78 ₦2,396

-28.09%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.17

$2.44 ₦3,285

-54.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 ฿22.54

$0.58 ₦785

18.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.18

$0.39 ₦529

25.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿140

$1.96 ₦2,637

117.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.78 ฿550

$5.79 ₦7,792

189.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 ฿54.4

$1.23 ₦1,653

34.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 ฿92.3

$1.79 ₦2,411

56.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.44

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.9 ฿1,801

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 ฿39.24

$0.61 ₦816

96.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 ฿17.78

$0.85 ₦1,142

-36.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.37 ฿77.9

$1.81 ₦2,438

30.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 ฿46.88

$0.55 ₦740

160.00%

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

$21.1K ฿691.5K

$19.9K ₦26.8M

5.97%

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

$27.1K ฿890.2K

$18.1K ₦24.4M

49.62%

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

$64.7 ฿2,124

$112 ₦151.1K

-42.31%

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

$13.19 ฿433

$6.22 ₦8,374

112.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.44 ฿638

$29.57 ₦39.8K

-34.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.45 ฿1,294

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿124

Cinema Ticket

$6.62 ฿217

$4.89 ₦6,581

35.38%

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

$805 ฿26.4K

$44.85 ₦60.4K

1695.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿496.1K

$3,067 ₦4.1M

393.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.8 ฿1,796

$25.28 ₦34.0K

116.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.43 ฿834

$47.41 ₦63.8K

-46.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.9 ฿3,015

$77.8 ₦104.7K

18.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.7 ฿2,449

$104 ₦139.4K

-27.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$467 ฿15.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$282 ฿9,251

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,985 ฿65.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,462 ฿48.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$592 ฿19.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

22.5

-75.24%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 17, 2026

Last update for Minna: August 17, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $29.00 in Minna. Groceries tell a different story – $237 in Chiang Mai vs $212 in Minna – so Minna 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 Minna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 65% more than Minna, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,380 per month in Chiang Mai and $839 in Minna. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $29.00 in Minna. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 12% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Minna, where all-in costs run around $559, than in Chiang Mai at $920. In Minna 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. Minna costs $559 versus $920 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 Minna. 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.