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 $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $130 in Siaya, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $220 in Siaya, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $309 in Siaya, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 568% more than Siaya, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Siaya are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Siaya 90% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$0.76 KES 98.4

117.11%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.45 KES 58.1

262.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$1.26 KES 163

-5.56%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$1.69 KES 220

18.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$9.42 KES 1,221

69.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$5.49 KES 712

-44.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$3.90 KES 506

178.46%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$1.83 KES 237

50.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$1.04 KES 135

13.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.58 KES 205

3.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$0.94 KES 122

61.70%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$0.80 KES 103

72.50%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$0.84 KES 108

41.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$0.51 KES 66.4

9.80%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

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

$13.68 ฿445

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

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

$307 ฿10.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Siaya: June 9, 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 568% more than Siaya, 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 $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $195 in Siaya. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $869 in Chiang Mai and $130 in Siaya. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 88% 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 $869 in Chiang Mai and $130 in Siaya, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Siaya costs $130 versus $869 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.