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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $445 in Benin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $755 in Benin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,065 in Benin, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 110% more than Benin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Benin are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Benin 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.3

$1.37 ₦1,823

51.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿653

$49.55 ₦65.8K

-60.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$5.60 ₦7,443

1.25%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.1

$2.89 ₦3,842

-37.37%

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

$0.77 ฿25.58

$0.27 ₦356

185.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.49

$0.17 ₦228

105.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.7

$0.97 ₦1,286

127.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

$0.98 ₦1,298

286.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.2

$3.23 ₦4,294

-36.53%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

$0.78 ₦1,036

93.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.57

$1.26 ₦1,671

11.11%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.2

$2.28 ₦3,030

-0.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿539

$3.56 ₦4,729

354.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.4

$4.01 ₦5,325

-27.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$4.56 ₦6,057

106.58%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.2

$1.72 ₦2,291

55.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.28

$1.28 ₦1,701

-14.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

$1.11 ₦1,472

45.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.61

$1.32 ₦1,760

10.61%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.54

$1.33 ₦1,772

-3.76%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.21

$1.35 ₦1,797

-21.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.88

$0.86 ₦1,140

-16.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.51

$0.37 ₦489

43.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$0.60 ₦791

605.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿609

$2.57 ₦3,415

611.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.3

$0.50 ₦662

226.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.6

$0.49 ₦657

491.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.24

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,790

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.04

$0.69 ₦920

69.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.25

$0.91 ₦1,212

-36.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.4

$2.21 ₦2,931

8.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.28

$0.72 ₦952

101.39%

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

$21.0K ฿699.5K

$11.3K ₦15.0M

86.69%

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

$26.4K ฿879.7K

$13.5K ₦17.9M

95.69%

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

$63.7 ฿2,119

$111 ₦146.9K

-42.46%

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

$12.89 ฿429

$16.20 ₦21.5K

-20.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿683

$33.13 ₦44.0K

-38.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,299

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$4.68 ₦6,222

40.60%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

$662 ₦879.2K

18.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿488.4K

$19.9K ₦26.4M

-26.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,835

$14.74 ₦19.6K

273.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿824

$17.95 ₦23.8K

37.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,133

$35.93 ₦47.7K

161.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,462

$47.96 ₦63.7K

54.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,594

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

$115 ₦152.2K

425.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

18.05

-69.14%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Benin: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 425% 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 $50.0 in Benin. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $149 in Benin – so Benin 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 Benin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 110% more than Benin, 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 $667 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $50.0 in Benin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 61% 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 Benin, where all-in costs run around $445, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Benin 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. Benin costs $445 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 Benin. 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.