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 $920 per month in Chiang Mai vs $615 in Oyo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,408 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,120 in Oyo, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,895 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,625 in Oyo, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 50% more than Oyo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Oyo are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 33% lower, Oyo 55% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.11 ฿69.1

$3.79 ₦5,102

-44.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.75 ฿648

$50.7 ₦68.2K

-61.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.85 ฿192

$7.35 ₦9,894

-20.41%

Cappuccino

$1.76 ฿57.8

$2.73 ₦3,671

-35.53%

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

$0.74 ฿24.37

$0.44 ₦591

68.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ฿10.90

$0.12 ₦162

175.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.47 ฿81.0

$0.39 ₦519

533.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 ฿127

$0.50 ₦671

676.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ฿62.4

$3.10 ₦4,169

-38.71%

White Bread (500g)

$1.67 ฿54.7

$0.54 ₦730

209.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.35 ฿44.24

$0.86 ₦1,157

56.98%

Eggs

$2.14 ฿70.2

$2.15 ₦2,900

-0.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿521

$3.42 ₦4,605

364.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.83 ฿92.9

$3.86 ₦5,198

-26.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.53 ฿345

$4.38 ₦5,890

140.41%

Apples (1kg)

$2.38 ฿78.2

$1.70 ₦2,288

40.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.01

$1.23 ₦1,651

-13.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.79

$1.07 ₦1,441

42.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿49.30

$1.26 ₦1,700

19.05%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿41.96

$1.35 ₦1,821

-5.19%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.17

$1.33 ₦1,793

-17.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 ฿22.54

$0.88 ₦1,189

-21.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.18

$0.31 ₦419

58.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿140

$0.56 ₦759

662.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.78 ฿550

$2.61 ₦3,512

542.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 ฿54.4

$0.38 ₦517

336.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 ฿92.3

$0.46 ₦619

510.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.44

$0.38 ₦517

136.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.9 ฿1,801

$14.49 ₦19.5K

278.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 ฿39.24

$0.68 ₦911

76.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 ฿17.78

$0.88 ₦1,179

-38.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.37 ฿77.9

$2.10 ₦2,821

12.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 ฿46.88

$0.83 ₦1,123

72.29%

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

$21.1K ฿691.5K

$11.0K ₦14.8M

91.82%

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

$27.1K ฿890.2K

$13.7K ₦18.4M

97.97%

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

$64.7 ฿2,124

$14.81 ₦19.9K

337.14%

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

$13.19 ฿433

$16.13 ₦21.7K

-18.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.44 ฿638

$25.03 ₦33.7K

-22.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.45 ฿1,294

$14.97 ₦20.2K

163.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿124

$4.75 ₦6,400

-20.63%

Cinema Ticket

$6.62 ฿217

$4.49 ₦6,041

47.44%

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

$805 ฿26.4K

$670 ₦901.5K

20.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿496.1K

$19.8K ₦26.6M

-23.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.8 ฿1,796

$5.94 ₦7,997

821.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.43 ฿834

$20.33 ₦27.4K

25.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.9 ฿3,015

$14.57 ₦19.6K

530.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.7 ฿2,449

$10.41 ₦14.0K

617.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$467 ฿15.3K

$435 ₦585.3K

7.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$282 ฿9,251

$252 ₦339.0K

11.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.2K

$1,110 ₦1.5M

-19.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.1K

$672 ₦904.1K

-22.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,985 ฿65.1K

$734 ₦987.5K

170.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,462 ฿48.0K

$184 ₦248.3K

692.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$592 ฿19.4K

$33.59 ₦45.2K

1662.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-44.30%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 17, 2026

Last update for Oyo: August 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $467 in Chiang Mai versus $435 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 1663% 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 $51.0 in Oyo. Groceries tell a different story – $237 in Chiang Mai vs $140 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

Chiang Mai costs about 50% 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,380 per month in Chiang Mai and $923 in Oyo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Kindergarten costs $805 per month in Chiang Mai and $670 in Oyo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 70% 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 $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Oyo, where all-in costs run around $615, than in Chiang Mai at $920. In Oyo 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. Oyo costs $615 versus $920 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 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.