Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Morogoro

For one person, living is cheaper in Morogoro: $374 a month against $936 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $6,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Chiang Mai, Thailand
Morogoro, Tanzania
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$936
/mo nomad
Morogoro
🇹🇿 Tanzania
$374
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Morogoro

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Morogoro actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $374 in Morogoro, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $936
  • Morogoro $374

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $629 in Morogoro, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,457
  • Morogoro $629

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $884 in Morogoro, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,979
  • Morogoro $884

Chiang Mai costs about 150% more than Morogoro, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Morogoro are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Morogoro 73% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Morogoro
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.24 ฿75.6
$1.91 TZS 5,008
17.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.00 ฿641
$18.54 TZS 48.5K
2.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.55 ฿187
$7.49 TZS 19.6K
-25.90%
Cappuccino
$1.67 ฿56.5
$1.98 TZS 5,189
-15.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 ฿21.55
$0.38 TZS 987
68.42%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ฿10.31
$0.22 TZS 576
40.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.36 ฿79.6
$0.92 TZS 2,414
156.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 ฿124
$1.92 TZS 5,018
90.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Morogoro
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.95 ฿65.8
$0.71 TZS 1,870
174.65%
White Bread (500g)
$1.44 ฿48.48
$0.40 TZS 1,037
260.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 ฿45.04
$0.97 TZS 2,545
37.11%
Eggs
$2.28 ฿77.1
$1.79 TZS 4,685
27.37%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.45 ฿555
$9.21 TZS 24.1K
78.61%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.78 ฿93.9
$4.41 TZS 11.6K
-36.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.31 ฿314
$3.71 TZS 9,723
150.94%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 ฿79.4
$1.14 TZS 2,992
106.14%
Banana (1kg)
$0.97 ฿32.80
$0.56 TZS 1,464
73.21%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 ฿53.9
$0.55 TZS 1,452
190.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.6
$0.37 TZS 969
305.41%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 ฿43.12
$0.72 TZS 1,884
77.78%
Onion (1kg)
$1.10 ฿37.19
$0.58 TZS 1,525
89.66%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 ฿23.82
$0.81 TZS 2,117
-12.35%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.37
$0.25 TZS 648
96.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.14 ฿140
$1.49 TZS 3,909
177.85%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.52 ฿591
$4.97 TZS 13.0K
252.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61 ฿54.5
$0.72 TZS 1,876
123.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ฿94.0
$1.54 TZS 4,031
80.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Morogoro
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.87 ฿29.31
$0.29 TZS 747
200.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$54.1 ฿1,826
$8.40 TZS 22.0K
543.93%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.16 ฿39.06
$1.60 TZS 4,194
-27.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 ฿17.80
$0.55 TZS 1,429
-3.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.42 ฿81.8
$12.98 TZS 34.0K
-81.36%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.90
$0.78 TZS 2,044
85.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1K ฿710.7K
$16.5K TZS 43.2M
27.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K ฿909.3K
$25.7K TZS 67.2M
4.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Morogoro
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.2 ฿2,098
$57.6 TZS 150.9K
7.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.17 ฿411
$8.93 TZS 23.4K
36.28%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.12 ฿679
$34.27 TZS 89.7K
-41.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Morogoro
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.31 ฿1,259
$11.37 TZS 29.8K
228.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.77 ฿127
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.49 ฿219
$4.98 TZS 13.0K
30.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Morogoro
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$736 ฿24.8K
$569 TZS 1.5M
29.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿498.3K
$7,547 TZS 19.8M
95.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Morogoro
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.4 ฿1,801
$7.33 TZS 19.2K
628.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.64 ฿831
$25.55 TZS 66.9K
-3.56%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.5 ฿3,087
$44.56 TZS 116.7K
105.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.9 ฿2,428
$18.99 TZS 49.7K
278.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Morogoro
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$482 ฿16.3K
$75.2 TZS 197.1K
540.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 ฿10.4K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,006 ฿33.9K
$189 TZS 493.7K
433.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$633 ฿21.4K
$94.9 TZS 248.4K
567.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,363 ฿79.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,589 ฿53.6K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Morogoro
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$590 ฿19.9K
$306 TZS 800.9K
92.84%
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: October 26, 2026

Last update for Morogoro: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$309
Morogoro
- * 100%
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$234
Morogoro
$122 47.8% $112
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$109
Morogoro
$43 60.1% $65
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$94
Morogoro
$101 6.7% $6.4
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$78
Morogoro
$72 6.7% $5.2
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$61
Morogoro
$14 77.4% $47
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$50
Morogoro
$21 57.6% $29

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Chiang Mai versus $75 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 93% 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 in Chiang Mai versus $19 in Morogoro. Groceries tell a different story – $234 in Chiang Mai vs $122 in Morogoro – so Morogoro wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇹🇿 Morogoro
🕒 Local time
12:33 12:33 PM
08:33 8:33 AM
4 h behind Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
471,409
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

TZS, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 33.75 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.68 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

Tanzanian Shilling exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 2,619 TZS (10,000 TZS = 3.82 USD). 1 EUR = 2,924 TZS (10,000 TZS = 3.42 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Mai Morogoro 7,300 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • Morogoro

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Morogoro?
Chiang Mai costs about 150% more than Morogoro, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. 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 Morogoro?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $561 in Morogoro. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Morogoro?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Morogoro, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $75 there versus $482 in Chiang Mai.
How expensive is transport in Chiang Mai compared to Morogoro?
Public transport costs about 84% less in Morogoro. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or in Morogoro?
Groceries cost about 92% more in Chiang Mai, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $800/month in Chiang Mai or in Morogoro?
A $800 monthly budget goes further in Morogoro, where all-in costs run around $374, than in Chiang Mai at $936. In Morogoro it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Morogoro – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or to Morogoro?
If budget matters most, go with Morogoro. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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