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 $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $386 in Morogoro, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $635 in Morogoro, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $884 in Morogoro, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 142% more than Morogoro, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Morogoro are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Morogoro 72% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.5

$1.95 TZS 5,117

6.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿655

$18.86 TZS 49.6K

3.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$8.58 TZS 22.6K

-33.92%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.3

$1.91 TZS 5,031

-5.24%

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

$0.77 ฿25.65

$0.37 TZS 974

108.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.53

$0.20 TZS 525

75.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.9

$0.93 TZS 2,433

137.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

$1.94 TZS 5,104

95.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.4

$0.70 TZS 1,852

192.86%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.6

$0.37 TZS 969

308.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.69

$0.96 TZS 2,526

45.83%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

$1.77 TZS 4,660

27.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

$9.80 TZS 25.8K

65.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.7

$4.59 TZS 12.1K

-36.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$3.71 TZS 9,746

153.91%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.4

$1.10 TZS 2,885

143.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.37

$0.55 TZS 1,443

98.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.0

$0.55 TZS 1,452

194.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.74

$0.40 TZS 1,047

265.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.65

$0.77 TZS 2,031

66.23%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.31

$0.59 TZS 1,550

79.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.94

$0.88 TZS 2,319

-18.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.56

$0.25 TZS 650

112.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$1.55 TZS 4,076

172.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿611

$4.94 TZS 13.0K

270.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$0.75 TZS 1,965

117.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.8

$1.52 TZS 4,007

90.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.32

$0.29 TZS 761

203.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

$8.24 TZS 21.7K

552.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.14

$1.63 TZS 4,291

-28.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.30

$0.59 TZS 1,563

-1.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

$13.43 TZS 35.3K

-82.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.41

$0.74 TZS 1,933

95.95%

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

$21.0K ฿701.4K

$16.7K TZS 44.0M

25.58%

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

$26.4K ฿882.0K

$26.5K TZS 69.7M

-0.31%

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

$63.7 ฿2,125

$57.7 TZS 151.8K

10.24%

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

$12.89 ฿430

$8.88 TZS 23.3K

45.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿685

$34.64 TZS 91.1K

-40.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,302

$11.51 TZS 30.3K

239.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿220

$5.24 TZS 13.8K

25.57%

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

$784 ฿26.2K

$577 TZS 1.5M

35.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

$7,589 TZS 20.0M

93.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,840

$7.61 TZS 20.0K

624.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿826

$26.11 TZS 68.6K

-5.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,142

$43.85 TZS 115.3K

114.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,469

$18.71 TZS 49.2K

295.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

$75.9 TZS 199.4K

546.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,620

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.8K

$188 TZS 495.5K

372.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

$95.6 TZS 251.4K

444.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.1K

$300 TZS 789.8K

100.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

18.25

-69.48%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Morogoro: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $75.9 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 100% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $19.00 in Morogoro. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $125 – making Morogoro the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 142% 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 $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $579 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 $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $577 in Morogoro. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 93% 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 Morogoro, where all-in costs run around $386, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Morogoro 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. Morogoro costs $386 versus $932 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.