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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $437 in Ondo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,014 in Ondo, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,591 in Ondo, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 99% more than Ondo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Ondo are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Ondo 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$2.53 ₦3,442

-21.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$50.6 ₦68.9K

-62.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$5.23 ₦7,111

48.18%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$2.13 ₦2,893

-9.86%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$0.36 ₦494

119.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$0.22 ₦300

63.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$0.85 ₦1,161

160.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$1.37 ₦1,864

167.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$2.25 ₦3,062

-26.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$1.19 ₦1,622

36.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$2.34 ₦3,187

-49.15%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$1.69 ₦2,304

18.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$6.44 ₦8,756

148.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$4.20 ₦5,705

-27.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$5.51 ₦7,495

97.10%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$3.59 ₦4,882

-23.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$2.10 ₦2,861

-43.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$2.13 ₦2,892

-23.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$2.31 ₦3,147

-34.20%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$2.31 ₦3,135

-40.26%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$1.92 ₦2,613

-38.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$1.90 ₦2,589

-63.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$0.36 ₦483

55.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$1.30 ₦1,772

252.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

$2.52 ₦3,429

557.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

$0.69 ₦939

165.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

$0.93 ₦1,263

244.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$0.49 ₦663

79.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$1.24 ₦1,683

9.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$2.26 ₦3,068

-40.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$4.64 ₦6,308

68.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$0.78 ₦1,054

57.69%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$20.0K ₦27.2M

8.23%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$20.4K ₦27.8M

10.33%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$23.30 ₦31.7K

202.75%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$10.31 ₦14.0K

32.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$33.60 ₦45.7K

-48.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$6.22 ₦8,456

-7.23%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$83.7 ₦113.7K

267.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$2,272 ₦3.1M

543.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$19.34 ₦26.3K

188.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$24.39 ₦33.2K

7.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$63.7 ₦86.5K

34.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$56.5 ₦76.8K

27.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$718 ₦976.1K

13.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$467 ₦634.4K

9.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

$25.60 ₦34.8K

2317.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.33

-69.38%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Last update for Ondo: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 2317% 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 $51.0 in Ondo. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $191 in Ondo – so Ondo 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 Ondo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 99% more than Ondo, 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 $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $655 in Ondo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $51.0 in Ondo. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 26% 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 $869 in Chiang Mai and $437 in Ondo, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ondo costs $437 versus $869 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 Ondo. 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.