Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Ondo

For one person, living is cheaper in Ondo: $373 a month against $936 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $6,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Chiang Mai, Thailand
Ondo, Nigeria
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$936
/mo nomad
Ondo
🇳🇬 Nigeria
$373
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $373 in Ondo, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $936
  • Ondo $373

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $770 in Ondo, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,457
  • Ondo $770

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,168 in Ondo, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,979
  • Ondo $1,168

Chiang Mai costs about 151% more than Ondo, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

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

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Ondo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.24 ฿75.5
$3.82 ₦5,099
-41.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.00 ฿640
$49.30 ₦65.9K
-61.46%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.55 ฿187
$7.54 ₦10.1K
-26.39%
Cappuccino
$1.67 ฿56.4
$2.77 ₦3,703
-39.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 ฿21.51
$0.14 ₦191
357.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ฿10.29
$0.22 ₦293
40.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.36 ฿79.5
$1.01 ₦1,356
133.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 ฿123
$2.03 ₦2,707
80.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Ondo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.95 ฿65.7
$3.21 ₦4,284
-39.25%
White Bread (500g)
$1.44 ฿48.41
$1.46 ₦1,952
-1.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 ฿44.97
$1.24 ₦1,659
7.26%
Eggs
$2.28 ฿77.0
$2.22 ₦2,972
2.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.45 ฿554
$3.42 ₦4,565
380.99%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.78 ฿93.8
$3.79 ₦5,061
-26.65%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.31 ฿314
$2.54 ₦3,393
266.54%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 ฿79.3
$1.62 ₦2,163
45.06%
Banana (1kg)
$0.97 ฿32.75
$1.32 ₦1,760
-26.52%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 ฿53.8
$1.12 ₦1,502
42.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.6
$1.50 ₦2,003
-
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 ฿43.06
$1.54 ₦2,058
-16.88%
Onion (1kg)
$1.10 ฿37.14
$1.53 ₦2,043
-28.10%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 ฿23.79
$0.82 ₦1,098
-13.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.34
$0.36 ₦483
36.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.14 ฿140
$0.57 ₦768
626.32%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.52 ฿590
$2.47 ₦3,298
609.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61 ฿54.4
$0.54 ₦719
198.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ฿93.8
$0.49 ₦656
467.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Ondo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.87 ฿29.27
$0.14 ₦188
521.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$54.1 ฿1,823
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.16 ฿39.00
$0.70 ₦937
65.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 ฿17.78
$0.95 ₦1,273
-44.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.42 ฿81.6
$2.10 ₦2,813
15.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.82
$0.86 ₦1,154
68.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1K ฿709.7K
$11.2K ₦15.0M
87.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K ฿907.9K
$29.0K ₦38.8M
-7.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Ondo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.2 ฿2,095
$7.28 ₦9,725
753.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.17 ฿410
$14.75 ₦19.7K
-17.49%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.12 ฿678
$32.81 ₦43.9K
-38.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Ondo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.31 ฿1,257
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.77 ฿127
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.49 ฿219
$6.33 ₦8,455
2.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Ondo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$736 ฿24.8K
$678 ₦905.9K
8.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿497.6K
$19.8K ₦26.5M
-25.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Ondo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.4 ฿1,799
$14.34 ₦19.2K
272.18%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.64 ฿830
$17.77 ₦23.7K
38.66%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.5 ฿3,083
$36.74 ₦49.1K
148.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.9 ฿2,424
$48.62 ₦65.0K
47.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Ondo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$482 ฿16.3K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 ฿10.4K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,006 ฿33.9K
$222 ₦296.7K
353.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$633 ฿21.3K
$149 ₦199.0K
325.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,363 ฿79.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,589 ฿53.6K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Ondo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$590 ฿19.9K
$26.50 ₦35.4K
2125.40%
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: October 26, 2026

Last update for Ondo: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$309
Ondo
- * 100%
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$234
Ondo
$149 36.3% $85
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$109
Ondo
$53 51.3% $56
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$94
Ondo
$55 41.9% $40
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$78
Ondo
$97 25% $19
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$61
Ondo
$6 * 90.2% $55
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$50
Ondo
$13 * 74.8% $38

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

Cost Breakdown

Salaries in Chiang Mai are about 22 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $49 in Ondo. Groceries tell a different story – $234 in Chiang Mai vs $149 in Ondo – so Ondo wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇳🇬 Ondo
🕒 Local time
10:48 10:48 AM
04:48 4:48 AM
6 h behind Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
275,000
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

NGN, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 33.7 THB (100 THB = 2.97 USD). 1 EUR = 37.77 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

Nigerian Naira exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 1,337 NGN (10,000 NGN = 7.48 USD). 1 EUR = 1,498 NGN (10,000 NGN = 6.68 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Mai Ondo 10,190 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • Ondo

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 Ondo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Ondo?
Chiang Mai costs about 151% more than Ondo, 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 Ondo?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $559 in Ondo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do dining costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Ondo?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai and $49 in Ondo. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or in Ondo?
Groceries cost about 57% more in Chiang Mai, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $800/month in Chiang Mai or in Ondo?
A $800 monthly budget goes further in Ondo, where all-in costs run around $373, than in Chiang Mai at $936. In Ondo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Chiang Mai or Ondo?
It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $373 in Ondo to $936 in Chiang Mai. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or to Ondo?
If budget matters most, go with Ondo. 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.

Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?