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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $441 in Sagamu, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $807 in Sagamu, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,173 in Sagamu, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 93% more than Sagamu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Sagamu are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Sagamu 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$2.60 ₦3,581

-24.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$49.85 ₦68.6K

-62.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$5.23 ₦7,195

51.43%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$2.18 ₦3,000

-12.39%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$0.37 ₦506

127.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.20 ₦275

75.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$0.79 ₦1,089

179.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$1.43 ₦1,973

165.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$2.24 ₦3,078

-26.79%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$1.19 ₦1,644

36.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$2.23 ₦3,066

-47.09%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$1.69 ₦2,324

18.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$6.41 ₦8,831

147.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$4.12 ₦5,672

-26.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$5.52 ₦7,604

95.11%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$3.44 ₦4,734

-24.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$2.13 ₦2,928

-42.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$2.19 ₦3,016

-22.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$2.33 ₦3,208

-32.19%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$2.41 ₦3,313

-45.23%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$2.01 ₦2,768

-41.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$1.99 ₦2,736

-66.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.38 ₦526

47.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$1.31 ₦1,800

245.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$3.28 ₦4,513

454.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$0.63 ₦874

190.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$0.90 ₦1,236

258.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$1.21 ₦1,662

11.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$2.16 ₦2,980

-37.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$4.66 ₦6,417

77.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$0.80 ₦1,097

58.75%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$20.2K ₦27.7M

4.97%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$20.7K ₦28.5M

8.53%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$41.24 ₦56.8K

70.10%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$10.29 ₦14.2K

33.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$33.94 ₦46.7K

-48.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$6.38 ₦8,779

-9.40%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$81.6 ₦112.3K

275.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$2,327 ₦3.2M

537.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$19.53 ₦26.9K

178.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$25.14 ₦34.6K

3.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$64.1 ₦88.2K

31.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$56.2 ₦77.4K

23.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Sagamu: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $50.0 in Sagamu. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $192 in Sagamu – so Sagamu 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 Sagamu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 93% more than Sagamu, 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 $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $661 in Sagamu. 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 $50.0 in Sagamu. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 27% 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 $852 in Chiang Mai and $441 in Sagamu, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Sagamu costs $441 versus $852 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 Sagamu. 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.