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 $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $475 in Sagamu, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $800 in Sagamu, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,124 in Sagamu, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 96% more than Sagamu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Sagamu are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Sagamu 65% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Sagamu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.08 ฿69.3
$3.86 ₦5,128
-46.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.61 ฿653
$49.84 ₦66.2K
-60.65%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.67 ฿189
$7.62 ₦10.1K
-25.59%
Cappuccino
$1.81 ฿60.1
$2.73 ₦3,625
-33.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 ฿25.58
$0.44 ₦589
75.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.49
$0.25 ₦333
40.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ฿73.7
$1.03 ₦1,364
114.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 ฿126
$2.04 ₦2,714
85.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Sagamu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.05 ฿68.2
$3.15 ₦4,191
-34.92%
White Bread (500g)
$1.51 ฿50.4
$1.46 ₦1,935
3.42%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.40 ฿46.57
$1.21 ₦1,603
15.70%
Eggs
$2.26 ฿75.2
$2.19 ₦2,908
3.20%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.19 ฿539
$3.61 ₦4,801
348.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.90 ฿96.4
$3.88 ₦5,157
-25.26%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.42 ฿314
$4.36 ₦5,786
116.06%
Apples (1kg)
$2.68 ฿89.2
$1.72 ₦2,284
55.81%
Banana (1kg)
$1.09 ฿36.28
$1.23 ₦1,639
-11.38%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.62 ฿53.8
$1.15 ₦1,527
40.87%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.46 ฿48.61
$1.27 ₦1,692
14.96%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 ฿42.54
$1.33 ₦1,773
-3.76%
Onion (1kg)
$1.06 ฿35.21
$1.31 ₦1,741
-19.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿23.88
$0.83 ₦1,108
-13.25%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.51
$0.37 ₦485
43.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.23 ฿141
$0.56 ₦742
655.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.29 ฿609
$2.58 ₦3,434
608.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 ฿54.3
$0.54 ₦711
201.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90 ฿96.6
$0.46 ₦614
530.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Sagamu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 ฿29.24
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.8 ฿1,790
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.17 ฿39.04
$0.71 ₦946
64.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.58 ฿19.25
$0.95 ₦1,262
-38.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.39 ฿79.4
$2.20 ₦2,924
8.64%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.28
$0.83 ₦1,102
74.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K ฿699.5K
$11.2K ₦14.9M
87.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K ฿879.7K
$13.5K ₦17.9M
96.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Sagamu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$63.7 ฿2,119
$114 ₦151.5K
-44.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.89 ฿429
$16.05 ₦21.3K
-19.69%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.52 ฿683
$32.77 ₦43.5K
-37.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Sagamu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.02 ฿1,299
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.92 ฿130
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.58 ฿219
$4.74 ₦6,295
38.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Sagamu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$784 ฿26.1K
$678 ₦900.9K
15.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ฿488.4K
$19.8K ₦26.3M
-25.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Sagamu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.1 ฿1,835
$14.74 ₦19.6K
273.88%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.74 ฿824
$17.88 ₦23.8K
38.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.1 ฿3,133
$36.87 ₦49.0K
155.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.0 ฿2,462
$49.58 ₦65.9K
49.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Sagamu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$490 ฿16.3K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$288 ฿9,594
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$891 ฿29.7K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$521 ฿17.3K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,974 ฿65.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,444 ฿48.1K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Sagamu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$602 ฿20.0K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
18.05
-69.14%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Sagamu: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $50.0 in Sagamu. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $153 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
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Sagamu?
Chiang Mai costs about 96% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai and in Sagamu?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $713 in Sagamu. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do dining costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Sagamu?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 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.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or in Sagamu?
Groceries cost about 57% 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 $2,000/month in Chiang Mai or in Sagamu?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Sagamu, where all-in costs run around $475, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Sagamu 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 Sagamu?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Sagamu costs $475 versus $932 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 Sagamu?
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 Sagamu?
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.

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