Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and the Republic of the Congo

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $906 a month against $1,646 in the Republic of the Congo, rent and utilities included – about $8,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$906
/mo nomad
🇨🇬 Republic of the Congo
$1,646
/mo nomad
🙂 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 29.2% cheaper than the Republic of the Congo without rent, and 45% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 33.2% cheaper than the Republic of the Congo without rent, and 46.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Republic of the Congo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.13 ฿71.4
$8.51 FCFA 4,976
-74.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.40 ฿649
$37.60 FCFA 22.0K
-48.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.47 ฿183
$4.99 FCFA 2,919
9.62%
Cappuccino
$1.68 ฿56.4
$3.90 FCFA 2,284
-56.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66 ฿22.10
$1.62 FCFA 948
-59.26%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 ฿11.52
$1.35 FCFA 790
-74.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.42 ฿81.0
$5.74 FCFA 3,360
-57.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿125
$2.58 FCFA 1,511
44.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Republic of the Congo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.06 ฿68.9
$2.56 FCFA 1,498
-19.53%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 ฿48.78
$4.65 FCFA 2,720
-68.60%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.35 ฿45.09
$3.13 FCFA 1,832
-56.87%
Eggs
$2.27 ฿76.0
$2.52 FCFA 1,476
-9.92%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.31 ฿546
$15.89 FCFA 9,298
2.64%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.70 ฿90.3
$7.21 FCFA 4,216
-62.55%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.20 ฿308
$12.10 FCFA 7,080
-23.97%
Apples (1kg)
$2.39 ฿80.1
$2.86 FCFA 1,672
-16.43%
Banana (1kg)
$1.04 ฿34.66
$1.75 FCFA 1,025
-40.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 ฿53.7
$3.52 FCFA 2,062
-54.55%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.44 ฿48.37
$4.06 FCFA 2,378
-64.53%
Potato (1kg)
$1.30 ฿43.59
$3.25 FCFA 1,902
-60.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.11 ฿37.29
$2.43 FCFA 1,420
-54.32%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.70 ฿23.55
$1.29 FCFA 755
-45.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.99
$0.88 FCFA 513
-42.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.13 ฿138
$3.75 FCFA 2,193
10.13%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.78 ฿595
$8.09 FCFA 4,734
119.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 ฿54.7
$1.05 FCFA 612
55.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 ฿96.0
$1.74 FCFA 1,015
64.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Republic of the Congo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 ฿28.76
$0.27 FCFA 158
218.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.2 ฿1,780
$23.35 FCFA 13.7K
127.62%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.22 ฿40.81
$1.67 FCFA 980
-26.95%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.56 ฿18.81
$1.66 FCFA 974
-66.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.31 ฿77.5
$6.79 FCFA 3,973
-65.98%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.50 ฿50.2
$1.29 FCFA 758
16.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.9K ฿698.3K
$29.0K FCFA 17.0M
-28.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿895.0K
$20.8K FCFA 12.2M
28.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Republic of the Congo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$61.3 ฿2,051
$607 FCFA 355.1K
-89.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.50 ฿419
$29.13 FCFA 17.0K
-57.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.36 ฿682
$43.35 FCFA 25.4K
-53.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Republic of the Congo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.94 ฿1,270
$34.43 FCFA 20.1K
10.19%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.77 ฿126
$16.70 FCFA 9,769
-77.43%
Cinema Ticket
$6.60 ฿221
$6.43 FCFA 3,761
2.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Republic of the Congo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$774 ฿25.9K
$55.1 FCFA 32.2K
1305.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.4K ฿483.2K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Republic of the Congo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.8 ฿1,835
$46.27 FCFA 27.1K
18.44%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.26 ฿846
$48.44 FCFA 28.3K
-47.85%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.6 ฿3,032
$119 FCFA 69.6K
-23.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.3 ฿2,453
$116 FCFA 67.7K
-36.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Republic of the Congo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$459 ฿15.4K
$795 FCFA 465.2K
-42.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$294 ฿9,835
$251 FCFA 146.7K
17.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$919 ฿30.8K
$2,616 FCFA 1.5M
-64.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$552 ฿18.5K
$977 FCFA 571.7K
-43.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,917 ฿64.2K
$3,433 FCFA 2.0M
-44.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,445 ฿48.4K
$2,991 FCFA 1.8M
-51.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Republic of the Congo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$592 ฿19.8K
$382 FCFA 223.3K
55.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
9.51
-41.43%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 5, 2026

Last update for the Republic of the Congo: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$294
Republic of the Congo
$251 14.7% $43
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$236
Republic of the Congo
$329 39.5% $93
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$110
Republic of the Congo
$148 35% $38
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$94
Republic of the Congo
$679 622% $585
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$77
Republic of the Congo
$176 127% $98
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$61
Republic of the Congo
$34 43.2% $26
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$51
Republic of the Congo
$47 7.5% $3.8
Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇨🇬 Republic of the Congo
🕒 Local time
15:58 3:58 PM
09:58 9:58 AM
6 h behind Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
6,142,180
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

XAF, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 33.48 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.55 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Central African CFA Franc exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 585 XAF (1,000 XAF = 1.71 USD). 1 EUR = 656 XAF (1,000 XAF = 1.52 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Mai Republic of the Congo 9,500 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • Republic of the Congo

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

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