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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $166 in Siaya, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $267 in Siaya, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $368 in Siaya, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 413% more than Siaya, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chiang Mai and Siaya are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Siaya 88% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$0.79 KES 103

107.59%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$0.44 KES 57.4

268.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$1.26 KES 163

-6.35%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$1.66 KES 214

21.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$9.32 KES 1,203

70.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$5.30 KES 684

-43.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$4.06 KES 524

165.27%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$1.88 KES 243

38.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$1.02 KES 132

19.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$1.54 KES 198

10.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$0.92 KES 119

71.74%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$0.79 KES 102

67.09%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$0.83 KES 107

40.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.55 KES 70.7

1.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$19.39 KES 2,503

-6.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

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

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

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

$13.77 ฿450

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

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

$306 ฿10.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

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 %)

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Last update for Siaya: April 27, 2026

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 Siaya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 413% more than Siaya, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. 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 $249 in Siaya. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $852 in Chiang Mai and $166 in Siaya. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 46% 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.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $166 in Siaya, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Siaya costs $166 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 Siaya. 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.