Bansko
🇧🇬 Bulgaria
47
Cost of Living Index in Bansko
Learn more Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and South Africa
For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $906 a month against $1,182 in South Africa, rent and utilities included – about $3,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
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🙂 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 17.1% cheaper than South Africa without rent, and 23.4% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 21.6% cheaper than South Africa without rent, and 26.1% cheaper with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
South Africa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.13 ฿71.4
$10.64 R 176
-79.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.40 ฿649
$41.40 R 683
-53.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.47 ฿183
$5.60 R 92.4
-2.32%
Cappuccino
$1.68 ฿56.4
$2.28 R 37.63
-26.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66 ฿22.10
$1.16 R 19.17
-43.10%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 ฿11.52
$0.92 R 15.22
-63.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.42 ฿81.0
$2.45 R 40.40
-1.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿125
$2.95 R 48.69
26.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
South Africa
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.06 ฿68.9
$1.19 R 19.63
73.11%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 ฿48.78
$1.12 R 18.42
30.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.35 ฿45.09
$1.79 R 29.58
-24.58%
Eggs
$2.27 ฿76.0
$2.48 R 40.88
-8.47%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.31 ฿546
$8.08 R 133
101.86%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.70 ฿90.3
$5.13 R 84.7
-47.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.20 ฿308
$7.81 R 129
17.80%
Apples (1kg)
$2.39 ฿80.1
$1.87 R 30.78
27.81%
Banana (1kg)
$1.04 ฿34.66
$1.66 R 27.42
-37.35%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 ฿53.7
$1.77 R 29.15
-9.60%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.44 ฿48.37
$1.80 R 29.67
-20.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.30 ฿43.59
$1.49 R 24.53
-12.75%
Onion (1kg)
$1.11 ฿37.29
$1.50 R 24.71
-26.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.70 ฿23.55
$1.28 R 21.16
-45.31%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.99
$1.09 R 17.97
-53.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.13 ฿138
$3.22 R 53.2
28.26%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.78 ฿595
$4.93 R 81.3
260.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 ฿54.7
$1.48 R 24.47
10.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 ฿96.0
$2.01 R 33.09
42.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
South Africa
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 ฿28.76
$1.60 R 26.39
-46.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.2 ฿1,780
$60.7 R 1,001
-12.41%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.22 ฿40.81
$1.09 R 17.98
11.93%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.56 ฿18.81
$0.98 R 16.23
-42.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.31 ฿77.5
$7.42 R 122
-68.87%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.50 ฿50.2
$1.49 R 24.63
0.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.9K ฿698.3K
$35.0K R 578.2K
-40.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿895.0K
$31.6K R 521.1K
-15.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
South Africa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$61.3 ฿2,051
$131 R 2,168
-53.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.50 ฿419
$34.71 R 573
-63.99%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.36 ฿682
$39.94 R 659
-49.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
South Africa
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.94 ฿1,270
$33.88 R 559
11.98%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.77 ฿126
$11.39 R 188
-66.90%
Cinema Ticket
$6.60 ฿221
$7.31 R 121
-9.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
South Africa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$774 ฿25.9K
$225 R 3,715
243.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.4K ฿483.2K
$5,485 R 90.5K
163.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
South Africa
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.8 ฿1,835
$52.0 R 858
5.43%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.26 ฿846
$33.30 R 549
-24.14%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.6 ฿3,032
$99.4 R 1,640
-8.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.3 ฿2,453
$87.4 R 1,441
-16.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
South Africa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$459 ฿15.4K
$480 R 7,918
-4.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$294 ฿9,835
$406 R 6,692
-27.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$919 ฿30.8K
$935 R 15.4K
-1.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$552 ฿18.5K
$796 R 13.1K
-30.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,917 ฿64.2K
$1,111 R 18.3K
72.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,445 ฿48.4K
$777 R 12.8K
85.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
South Africa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$592 ฿19.8K
$1,476 R 24.4K
-59.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
11.23
-50.40%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: October 5, 2026
Last update for South Africa: October 3, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai $294 31.8%
South Africa $406 33.6% 38.1% $112
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai $236 25.6%
South Africa $196 16.2% 17% $40
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai $110 11.9%
South Africa $122 10.1% 11.5% $13
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai $94 10.2%
South Africa $206 17.1% 119% $112
Eating Out
Chiang Mai $77 8.4%
South Africa $156 12.9% 102% $79
Getting Around
Chiang Mai $61 6.6%
South Africa $73 6.1% 20.6% $12
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai $51 5.5%
South Africa $49 4% 5.1% $2.6
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai $552 29%
South Africa $796 31.3% 44.3% $245
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai $529 27.8%
South Africa $453 17.8% 14.4% $76
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai $244 12.8%
South Africa $272 10.7% 11.6% $28
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai $107 5.6%
South Africa $241 9.5% 126% $134
Eating Out
Chiang Mai $243 12.8%
South Africa $525 20.6% 116% $282
Getting Around
Chiang Mai $123 6.5%
South Africa $149 5.9% 21.5% $26
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai $106 5.6%
South Africa $108 4.3% 2.2% $2.4
Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇿🇦 South Africa
Weather
Population
127,240
62,027,503
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- Chiang Mai South Africa 9,440 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
- Chiang Mai
- South Africa
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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 other spots: cost of living compared
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