😐A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $473 in Takoradi, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $824 in Takoradi, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,175 in Takoradi, rent included.
😐Chiang Mai costs about 84% more than Takoradi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Takoradi are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai35% lower, Takoradi65% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Takoradi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.98฿64.3
$4.24GHS 46.69
-53.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.80฿612
$47.79GHS 526
-60.66%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.75฿252
$7.84GHS 86.2
-1.15%
Cappuccino
$1.92฿62.5
$3.60GHS 39.62
-46.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79฿25.79
$0.91GHS 10.06
-13.19%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36฿11.62
$0.37GHS 4.07
-2.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.21฿72.1
$1.50GHS 16.50
47.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66฿119
$2.53GHS 27.78
44.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Takoradi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65฿53.8
$1.62GHS 17.78
1.85%
White Bread(500g)
$1.63฿53.2
$1.15GHS 12.65
41.74%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.19฿38.86
$1.93GHS 21.26
-38.34%
Eggs
$2.00฿65.1
$2.30GHS 25.33
-13.04%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.98฿520
$11.18GHS 123
42.93%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.03฿98.5
$4.54GHS 49.95
-33.26%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86฿354
$2.94GHS 32.37
269.39%
Apples(1kg)
$2.76฿90.0
$2.65GHS 29.17
4.15%
Banana(1kg)
$1.18฿38.42
$0.93GHS 10.27
26.88%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.64฿53.5
$1.20GHS 13.15
36.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.52฿49.51
$1.99GHS 21.85
-23.62%
Potato(1kg)
$1.38฿45.10
$2.60GHS 28.61
-46.92%
Onion(1kg)
$1.19฿38.84
$2.14GHS 23.58
-44.39%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.70฿22.86
$0.80GHS 8.76
-12.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56฿18.13
$0.30GHS 3.33
86.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.58฿149
$1.59GHS 17.47
188.05%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.56฿539
$7.20GHS 79.2
130.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83฿59.5
$0.36GHS 3.91
408.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20฿104
$1.94GHS 21.33
64.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Takoradi
Difference
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
$1.56GHS 17.19
-12.82%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.34฿43.65
$1.18GHS 12.93
13.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.84฿256
$5.50GHS 60.5
42.55%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.23฿39.92
$1.09GHS 11.94
12.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K฿704.3K
$8,139GHS 89.5K
165.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K฿734.3K
$9,560GHS 105.2K
135.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Takoradi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.5฿2,298
$56.6GHS 623
24.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.68฿445
$13.42GHS 148
1.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.45฿568
$37.13GHS 408
-53.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Takoradi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.33฿1,346
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.96฿227
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.77฿188
$9.78GHS 108
-41.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Takoradi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$307฿10.0K
$71.9GHS 790
327.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.6K฿475.9K
$7,926GHS 87.2K
84.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Takoradi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8฿1,817
$14.86GHS 163
275.44%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.21฿854
$19.18GHS 211
36.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.8฿2,793
$29.65GHS 326
189.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.2฿2,353
$41.03GHS 451
76.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Takoradi
Difference
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
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Takoradi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$619฿20.2K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
25.4
-80.31%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026
Last update for Takoradi: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $48.00 in Takoradi. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $182 in Takoradi – so Takoradi 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 Takoradi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Takoradi?
Chiang Mai costs about 84% more than Takoradi, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai vs Takoradi?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $709 in Takoradi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do dining costs compare in Chiang Mai vs Takoradi?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $48.00 in Takoradi. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or Takoradi?
Groceries cost about 32% 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.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Chiang Mai or Takoradi?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $869 in Chiang Mai and $473 in Takoradi, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Takoradi?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Takoradi costs $473 versus $869 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Takoradi?
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.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or Takoradi?
If budget matters most, go with Takoradi. 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.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared