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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $430 in Morogoro, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $705 in Morogoro, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $979 in Morogoro, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 102% more than Morogoro, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Morogoro are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Morogoro 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$2.84 TZS 7,401

-30.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$19.60 TZS 51.1K

-4.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$7.61 TZS 19.8K

1.84%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$1.97 TZS 5,136

-2.54%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$0.38 TZS 996

107.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$0.24 TZS 627

50.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$1.03 TZS 2,694

114.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$1.95 TZS 5,097

87.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$0.74 TZS 1,920

122.97%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.40 TZS 1,053

307.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$0.94 TZS 2,443

26.60%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$1.90 TZS 4,969

5.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$9.71 TZS 25.3K

64.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$4.53 TZS 11.8K

-33.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$3.94 TZS 10.3K

175.63%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$1.18 TZS 3,084

133.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$0.56 TZS 1,453

110.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$0.60 TZS 1,568

173.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$0.37 TZS 978

310.81%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$0.75 TZS 1,965

84.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$0.55 TZS 1,442

116.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$0.84 TZS 2,181

-16.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$0.26 TZS 672

115.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$1.56 TZS 4,071

193.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

$5.01 TZS 13.1K

230.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

$0.79 TZS 2,064

131.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

$1.65 TZS 4,306

93.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$0.32 TZS 844

175.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

$8.29 TZS 21.6K

125.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$1.43 TZS 3,735

-4.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$0.55 TZS 1,433

143.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$13.59 TZS 35.5K

-42.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$0.79 TZS 2,054

55.70%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$17.3K TZS 45.2M

24.82%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$17.0K TZS 44.4M

32.60%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$98.0 TZS 255.8K

-28.04%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$10.96 TZS 28.6K

24.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$32.35 TZS 84.4K

-46.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$11.48 TZS 29.9K

260.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$4.85 TZS 12.7K

18.97%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$255 TZS 665.0K

20.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$7,885 TZS 20.6M

85.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$7.86 TZS 20.5K

609.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$42.55 TZS 111.0K

-38.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$46.79 TZS 122.1K

83.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$19.15 TZS 50.0K

277.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$77.6 TZS 202.5K

453.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$192 TZS 500.0K

326.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$95.1 TZS 248.2K

436.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

$305 TZS 795.4K

102.97%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.67

-74.58%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Last update for Morogoro: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $77.6 in Morogoro. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 103% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $20.00 in Morogoro. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $127 in Morogoro – so Morogoro 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 Morogoro: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 102% more than Morogoro, 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 $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $645 in Morogoro. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $307 per month in Chiang Mai and $255 in Morogoro. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 90% 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.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $869 in Chiang Mai and $430 in Morogoro, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Morogoro costs $430 versus $869 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 Morogoro. 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.