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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $619 in Safi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $948 in Safi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,277 in Safi, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 39% more than Safi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Safi are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Safi 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$3.95 MAD 36.93

-50.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$16.24 MAD 152

12.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$4.70 MAD 43.97

59.15%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$1.96 MAD 18.32

3.06%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$0.62 MAD 5.81

37.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$0.32 MAD 2.97

12.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

$1.65 MAD 15.46

29.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$1.66 MAD 15.50

116.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$0.87 MAD 8.09

89.66%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$0.50 MAD 4.72

214.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$1.53 MAD 14.32

-22.22%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$1.87 MAD 17.53

3.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$7.39 MAD 69.2

119.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$6.81 MAD 63.7

-56.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$9.58 MAD 89.6

14.20%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$1.27 MAD 11.90

113.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$1.20 MAD 11.21

-2.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$0.77 MAD 7.20

119.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$0.71 MAD 6.68

125.35%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$0.67 MAD 6.30

105.97%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$0.70 MAD 6.54

71.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$0.42 MAD 3.93

59.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$0.64 MAD 5.98

-12.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$4.13 MAD 38.69

12.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$7.63 MAD 71.4

130.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

$1.98 MAD 18.56

-6.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$1.94 MAD 18.13

70.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

$0.51 MAD 4.79

72.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

$10.85 MAD 102

78.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$0.53 MAD 4.97

156.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

$0.51 MAD 4.81

162.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$6.62 MAD 62.0

24.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$1.59 MAD 14.86

-23.27%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$36.8K MAD 344.3K

-41.96%

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$30.0K MAD 280.4K

-24.81%

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$29.16 MAD 273

142.35%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$11.26 MAD 105

24.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$40.37 MAD 378

-56.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

$21.73 MAD 203

93.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$5.56 MAD 52.0

23.74%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$3.94 MAD 36.86

50.25%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$160 MAD 1,497

92.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$3,729 MAD 34.9K

298.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$42.18 MAD 395

32.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$36.17 MAD 338

-27.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$98.5 MAD 921

-15.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$38.95 MAD 364

80.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$245 MAD 2,296

76.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

$141 MAD 1,317

69.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$454 MAD 4,248

81.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$240 MAD 2,247

113.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$920 MAD 8,605

108.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

$561 MAD 5,250

161.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$458 MAD 4,283

26.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.81

3.95%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Safi: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $245 in Safi. 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 27% 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $16.00 in Safi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $174 – making Safi the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Safi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 39% more than Safi, 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 $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $928 in Safi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Safi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $160 in Safi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 40% 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.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $861 in Chiang Mai and $619 in Safi, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Safi costs $619 versus $861 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 Safi. 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.