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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $906 per month in Chiang Mai vs $629 in Oyo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,385 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,147 in Oyo, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,864 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,666 in Oyo, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 44% more than Oyo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Oyo are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Oyo 53% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Oyo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.13 ฿71.6
$3.85 ₦5,099
-44.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.40 ฿651
$50.7 ₦67.1K
-61.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.47 ฿184
$7.69 ₦10.2K
-28.87%
Cappuccino
$1.68 ฿56.6
$2.88 ₦3,809
-41.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66 ฿22.17
$0.42 ₦551
57.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 ฿11.55
$0.11 ₦151
209.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.42 ฿81.3
$0.36 ₦481
572.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿125
$0.52 ₦683
617.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Oyo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.06 ฿69.1
$3.11 ₦4,113
-33.76%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 ฿48.93
$0.52 ₦683
180.77%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.35 ฿45.22
$0.95 ₦1,257
42.11%
Eggs
$2.27 ฿76.2
$2.30 ₦3,042
-1.30%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.31 ฿548
$3.55 ₦4,704
359.44%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.70 ฿90.6
$3.97 ₦5,262
-31.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.20 ฿309
$4.45 ₦5,892
106.74%
Apples (1kg)
$2.39 ฿80.4
$1.65 ₦2,183
44.85%
Banana (1kg)
$1.04 ฿34.76
$1.26 ₦1,671
-17.46%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 ฿53.9
$1.10 ₦1,458
45.45%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.44 ฿48.51
$1.33 ₦1,756
8.27%
Potato (1kg)
$1.30 ฿43.72
$1.32 ₦1,751
-1.52%
Onion (1kg)
$1.11 ฿37.40
$1.36 ₦1,800
-18.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.70 ฿23.62
$0.83 ₦1,100
-15.66%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿17.04
$0.29 ₦382
75.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.13 ฿139
$0.59 ₦782
600.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.78 ฿597
$2.71 ₦3,594
556.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 ฿54.9
$0.36 ₦479
352.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 ฿96.3
$0.47 ₦621
510.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Oyo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 ฿28.84
$0.40 ₦524
115.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.2 ฿1,785
$15.16 ₦20.1K
250.59%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.22 ฿40.94
$0.70 ₦921
74.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.56 ฿18.87
$0.92 ₦1,214
-39.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.31 ฿77.7
$2.17 ₦2,877
6.45%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.50 ฿50.3
$0.82 ₦1,083
82.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.9K ฿700.4K
$11.4K ₦15.0M
83.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿897.7K
$13.8K ₦18.3M
93.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Oyo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$61.3 ฿2,057
$14.88 ₦19.7K
311.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.50 ฿420
$16.33 ₦21.6K
-23.45%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.36 ฿684
$32.64 ₦43.2K
-37.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Oyo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.94 ฿1,274
$15.00 ₦19.9K
152.93%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.77 ฿126
$4.71 ₦6,233
-19.96%
Cinema Ticket
$6.60 ฿222
$4.86 ₦6,433
35.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Oyo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$774 ฿26.0K
$676 ₦895.0K
14.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.4K ฿484.7K
$20.0K ₦26.5M
-27.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Oyo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.8 ฿1,840
$6.18 ₦8,189
786.73%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.26 ฿848
$18.39 ₦24.3K
37.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.6 ฿3,041
$14.96 ₦19.8K
505.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.3 ฿2,460
$10.49 ₦13.9K
598.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Oyo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$459 ฿15.4K
$442 ₦585.6K
3.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$294 ฿9,865
$261 ₦345.9K
12.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$919 ฿30.9K
$1,115 ₦1.5M
-17.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$552 ฿18.5K
$681 ₦901.4K
-18.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,917 ฿64.4K
$754 ₦998.8K
154.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,445 ฿48.5K
$189 ₦250.3K
664.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Oyo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$592 ฿19.9K
$34.61 ₦45.8K
1611.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
10
-44.30%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 5, 2026

Last update for Oyo: October 4, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $459 in Chiang Mai versus $442 in Oyo. 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 1611% 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 Oyo. Groceries tell a different story – $236 in Chiang Mai vs $142 in Oyo – so Oyo 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 Oyo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Oyo?
Chiang Mai costs about 44% more than Oyo, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 Oyo?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,359 per month in Chiang Mai and $944 in Oyo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Oyo?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Oyo, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Oyo?
Kindergarten costs $774 per month in Chiang Mai and $676 in Oyo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or in Oyo?
Groceries cost about 67% 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.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Chiang Mai or in Oyo?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Oyo, where all-in costs run around $629, than in Chiang Mai at $906. In Oyo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Oyo?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Oyo costs $629 versus $906 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Oyo?
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.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or to Oyo?
If budget matters most, go with Oyo. 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.

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