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 $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $443 in Morogoro, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $709 in Morogoro, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $975 in Morogoro, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 93% more than Morogoro, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Morogoro are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Morogoro 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.2

$2.85 TZS 7,484

-28.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿624

$19.26 TZS 50.6K

-2.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿262

$7.54 TZS 19.8K

4.24%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.7

$1.95 TZS 5,136

4.10%

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

$0.80 ฿26.64

$0.38 TZS 1,006

110.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.68

$0.24 TZS 633

45.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.5

$1.09 TZS 2,856

96.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿122

$1.92 TZS 5,045

91.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.6

$0.74 TZS 1,944

133.78%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.4

$0.38 TZS 989

313.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿39.99

$0.92 TZS 2,426

30.43%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿65.8

$1.87 TZS 4,922

5.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿541

$9.20 TZS 24.2K

76.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$4.59 TZS 12.1K

-33.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿360

$3.81 TZS 10.0K

183.46%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.3

$1.19 TZS 3,130

132.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.94

$0.57 TZS 1,489

105.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.0

$0.57 TZS 1,488

200.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.2

$0.41 TZS 1,069

287.80%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.51

$0.75 TZS 1,965

85.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.56

$0.60 TZS 1,570

93.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.05

$0.84 TZS 2,211

-21.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.31

$0.26 TZS 677

100.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$1.53 TZS 4,035

203.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿593

$5.07 TZS 13.3K

250.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.6

$0.75 TZS 1,979

138.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿111

$1.66 TZS 4,375

101.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.27

$0.32 TZS 849

184.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿622

$8.36 TZS 22.0K

122.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.04

$1.48 TZS 3,897

-4.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.70

$0.55 TZS 1,437

143.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿270

$13.54 TZS 35.6K

-40.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.16

$0.76 TZS 1,989

61.84%

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

$21.4K ฿715.1K

$17.3K TZS 45.6M

23.57%

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

$21.8K ฿728.0K

$17.0K TZS 44.7M

28.36%

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

$71.3 ฿2,379

$94.7 TZS 249.0K

-24.69%

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

$14.01 ฿467

$10.61 TZS 27.9K

32.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿598

$31.55 TZS 82.9K

-43.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,362

$11.83 TZS 31.1K

245.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$4.94 TZS 13.0K

15.79%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$253 TZS 665.0K

21.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.7K

$7,697 TZS 20.2M

90.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,860

$7.80 TZS 20.5K

615.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿869

$43.35 TZS 114.0K

-39.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,829

$45.92 TZS 120.7K

84.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,368

$19.02 TZS 50.0K

273.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.1K

$77.3 TZS 203.2K

447.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,088

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.6K

$191 TZS 503.3K

316.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿16.9K

$96.5 TZS 253.7K

425.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿48.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

$307 TZS 808.3K

93.53%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Morogoro: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $77.3 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 94% 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 $19.00 in Morogoro. Groceries tell a different story – $244 in Chiang Mai vs $125 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 93% 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 $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $664 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 $308 per month in Chiang Mai and $253 in Morogoro. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 95% 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 $852 in Chiang Mai and $443 in Morogoro, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Morogoro costs $443 versus $852 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.