Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Benin

For one person, living is cheaper in Benin: $446 a month against $935 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $5,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
Learn more

Chiang Mai Living Index
21

Cost of Living Index in Benin
Learn more

Benin Living Index

Jump to prices

Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$935

/mo nomad

Benin

🇳🇬 Nigeria

$446

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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 Benin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $935 per month in Chiang Mai vs $446 in Benin, rent included.

Chiang Mai $935
Benin $446

A couple spends around $1,467 per month in Chiang Mai vs $756 in Benin, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,467
Benin $756

A family of three spends $1,999 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,065 in Benin, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,999
Benin $1,065

Chiang Mai costs about 110% more than Benin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Benin are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Benin 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.13 ฿71.8

$1.27 ₦1,704

67.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.62 ฿626

$50.1 ₦67.0K

-62.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.60 ฿188

$5.47 ₦7,320

2.38%

Cappuccino

$1.66 ฿55.9

$2.84 ₦3,801

-41.55%

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

$0.65 ฿21.75

$0.29 ₦391

124.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ฿10.25

$0.17 ₦226

76.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 ฿78.1

$0.93 ₦1,249

149.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿123

$0.90 ₦1,207

307.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.02 ฿67.8

$3.23 ₦4,318

-37.46%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ฿47.34

$0.74 ₦984

90.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.79

$1.20 ₦1,603

15.83%

Eggs

$2.37 ฿79.6

$2.18 ₦2,917

8.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.52 ฿555

$3.59 ₦4,796

360.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.67 ฿89.8

$3.85 ₦5,150

-30.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.02 ฿303

$4.51 ₦6,031

100.00%

Apples (1kg)

$2.40 ฿80.6

$1.62 ₦2,165

48.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 ฿35.01

$1.26 ₦1,685

-17.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.66 ฿55.8

$1.09 ₦1,454

52.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 ฿52.4

$1.54 ₦2,056

1.30%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.61

$1.58 ₦2,118

-21.52%

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.53

$1.51 ₦2,017

-27.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 ฿25.61

$0.84 ₦1,120

-9.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿17.29

$0.36 ₦487

41.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.12 ฿139

$0.54 ₦725

662.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.93 ฿603

$2.46 ₦3,286

628.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 ฿54.6

$0.49 ₦662

230.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 ฿94.9

$0.46 ₦612

513.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿31.42

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$52.9 ฿1,778

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ฿39.56

$0.70 ₦938

68.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.17 ฿5.76

$0.91 ₦1,215

-81.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 ฿60.9

$2.20 ₦2,947

-17.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ฿49.51

$0.77 ₦1,028

90.91%

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

$21.0K ฿706.4K

$11.3K ₦15.1M

86.43%

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

$26.5K ฿891.4K

$29.2K ₦39.0M

-9.13%

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

$62.6 ฿2,103

$111 ₦149.1K

-43.88%

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

$11.60 ฿390

$14.40 ₦19.3K

-19.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.30 ฿683

$33.30 ₦44.5K

-39.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.88 ฿1,274

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.70 ฿124

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 ฿219

$6.00 ₦8,029

8.50%

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

$727 ฿24.4K

$657 ₦878.9K

10.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.6K ฿557.2K

$19.8K ₦26.5M

-16.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.5 ฿1,800

$14.70 ₦19.7K

264.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.80 ฿834

$17.96 ₦24.0K

38.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.4 ฿3,039

$36.73 ₦49.1K

146.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.0 ฿2,420

$47.54 ₦63.6K

51.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$481 ฿16.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$310 ฿10.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,058 ฿35.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$659 ฿22.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,418 ฿81.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,609 ฿54.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿20.0K

$110 ₦146.8K

441.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

18.39

-69.71%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: November 1, 2026

Last update for Benin: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$310 33.1%

Benin

- * 0% 100%

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$237 25.3%

Benin

$148 33.2% 37.4% $88

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$108 11.6%

Benin

$53 11.8% 51.4% $56

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Benin

$159 35.7% 68.5% $65

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$77 8.2%

Benin

$69 15.5% 9.8% $7.5

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$59 6.3%

Benin

$5.3 * 1.2% 91.1% $53

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$51 5.4%

Benin

$12 * 2.7% 76.4% $39

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

Cost Breakdown

Salaries in Chiang Mai are about 5.4 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $50 in Benin. Groceries tell a different story – $237 in Chiang Mai vs $148 in Benin – so Benin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇳🇬 Benin

🕒 Local time

03:23 3:23 AM

21:23 9:23 PM

6 h behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

1,147,188

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Nigerian Naira NGN ₦

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.97 USD

100 THB = 2.64 EUR

10,000 NGN = 7.48 USD

10,000 NGN = 6.64 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

NGN, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 33.62 THB (100 THB = 2.97 USD). 1 EUR = 37.85 THB (100 THB = 2.64 EUR).

Nigerian Naira exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 1,337 NGN (10,000 NGN = 7.48 USD). 1 EUR = 1,505 NGN (10,000 NGN = 6.64 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai Benin 10,130 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Benin

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 Benin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 110% more than Benin, 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $669 in Benin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai and $50 in Benin. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 60% more in Chiang Mai, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A $800 monthly budget goes further in Benin, where all-in costs run around $446, than in Chiang Mai at $935. In Benin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $446 in Benin to $935 in Chiang Mai. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

If budget matters most, go with Benin. 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.