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 $128 in Siaya, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $221 in Siaya, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $315 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 36% lower, Siaya 90% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.2

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿624

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿262

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.7

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

$0.80 ฿26.64

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.68

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.6

$0.74 KES 95.6

133.78%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.4

$0.44 KES 57.1

256.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿39.99

$1.20 KES 156

Eggs

$1.97 ฿65.8

$1.71 KES 221

15.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿541

$9.54 KES 1,233

70.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$5.55 KES 717

-44.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿360

$4.07 KES 526

165.36%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.3

$1.81 KES 234

53.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.94

$1.07 KES 138

9.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.0

$1.54 KES 199

11.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.2

$0.88 KES 113

80.68%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.51

$0.77 KES 99.7

80.52%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.56

$0.85 KES 110

36.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.05

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.31

$0.55 KES 70.8

-5.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿593

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿111

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.27

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿622

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.04

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.70

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿270

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.16

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

$21.4K ฿715.1K

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

$21.8K ฿728.0K

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

$71.3 ฿2,379

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

$14.01 ฿467

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿598

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,362

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

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

$308 ฿10.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,860

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿869

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,829

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,368

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,088

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿16.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿48.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Siaya: July 25, 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 $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $191 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 $128 in Siaya. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 90% 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 $128 in Siaya, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Siaya costs $128 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.