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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $791 in Sousse, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,259 in Sousse, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,728 in Sousse, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 20% more than Sousse, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chiang Mai and Sousse are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Sousse 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.6

$4.69 TND 13.56

-55.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿646

$24.29 TND 70.3

-19.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿186

$6.19 TND 17.90

-8.72%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.4

$1.06 TND 3.07

70.75%

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

$0.71 ฿23.45

$0.77 TND 2.23

-7.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.38

$0.36 TND 1.05

-11.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿73.6

$1.74 TND 5.03

28.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿119

$1.70 TND 4.90

113.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿64.4

$0.48 TND 1.40

308.33%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.39

$0.15 TND 0.43

900.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.93

$1.30 TND 3.76

3.08%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿74.5

$1.64 TND 4.75

37.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿535

$14.02 TND 40.54

15.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.1

$5.80 TND 16.77

-49.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿327

$14.39 TND 41.61

-30.92%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿84.6

$1.92 TND 5.55

33.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿34.73

$3.84 TND 11.09

-72.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.0

$1.08 TND 3.13

49.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.97

$0.78 TND 2.24

94.87%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿41.77

$0.89 TND 2.57

42.70%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.06

$0.75 TND 2.17

42.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.68

$0.43 TND 1.25

67.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.72

$0.33 TND 0.96

54.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿138

$3.73 TND 10.78

12.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿587

$5.17 TND 14.96

245.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿55.7

$0.99 TND 2.88

70.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿93.3

$1.19 TND 3.44

138.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.43

$0.35 TND 1.02

165.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,771

$10.17 TND 29.42

429.60%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.59

$0.31 TND 0.91

296.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿18.96

$0.66 TND 1.91

-12.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿79.7

$4.03 TND 11.64

-39.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.43

$0.85 TND 2.45

65.88%

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

$21.4K ฿705.1K

$40.2K TND 116.4K

-46.72%

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

$27.3K ฿898.7K

$37.7K TND 109.0K

-27.49%

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

$63.7 ฿2,093

$77.2 TND 223

-17.48%

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

$12.85 ฿423

$12.94 TND 37.43

-0.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿665

$17.80 TND 51.5

13.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,274

$29.44 TND 85.1

31.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

$27.74 TND 80.2

-85.69%

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿222

$6.65 TND 19.22

1.35%

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

$778 ฿25.6K

$98.3 TND 284

691.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿480.4K

$3,033 TND 8,773

381.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,785

$46.89 TND 136

15.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿837

$66.3 TND 192

-61.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,102

$154 TND 446

-38.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,415

$107 TND 310

-31.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.1K

$247 TND 713

98.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,512

$167 TND 484

72.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.4K

$535 TND 1,546

67.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.0K

$349 TND 1,010

48.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.3K

$997 TND 2,883

96.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿48.6K

$641 TND 1,853

130.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿19.8K

$398 TND 1,151

51.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-53.58%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Last update for Sousse: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $247 in Sousse. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 51% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $24.00 in Sousse. Groceries tell a different story – $240 in Chiang Mai vs $201 in Sousse – so Sousse 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 Sousse: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 20% more than Sousse, 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 $1,421 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,186 in Sousse. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Sousse, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $778 per month in Chiang Mai and $98.3 in Sousse. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 20% 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.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Sousse, where all-in costs run around $791, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Sousse it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Sousse costs $791 versus $947 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 Sousse. 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.