😐A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $476 in Takoradi, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $828 in Takoradi, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,180 in Takoradi, rent included.
😐Chiang Mai costs about 79% more than Takoradi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Takoradi are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai36% lower, Takoradi64% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Takoradi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96฿64.0
$4.30GHS 48.16
-54.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.81฿615
$47.46GHS 531
-60.37%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.92฿259
$7.95GHS 89.0
-0.38%
Cappuccino
$1.91฿62.6
$3.62GHS 40.47
-47.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84฿27.41
$0.93GHS 10.42
-9.68%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35฿11.51
$0.37GHS 4.17
-5.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.21฿72.1
$1.51GHS 16.95
46.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80฿124
$2.46GHS 27.54
54.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Takoradi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.64฿53.5
$1.62GHS 18.17
1.23%
White Bread(500g)
$1.62฿53.1
$1.19GHS 13.27
36.13%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.18฿38.62
$1.98GHS 22.21
-40.40%
Eggs
$2.01฿65.8
$2.27GHS 25.38
-11.45%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.89฿520
$11.08GHS 124
43.41%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.01฿98.5
$4.72GHS 52.8
-36.23%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.77฿352
$2.96GHS 33.07
263.85%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61฿85.5
$2.65GHS 29.68
-1.51%
Banana(1kg)
$1.22฿39.88
$1.00GHS 11.15
22.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.70฿55.7
$1.19GHS 13.37
42.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.58฿51.5
$2.00GHS 22.35
-21.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.32฿43.14
$2.49GHS 27.85
-46.99%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17฿38.23
$2.21GHS 24.77
-47.06%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.67฿21.98
$0.75GHS 8.38
-10.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56฿18.32
$0.28GHS 3.13
100.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.53฿148
$1.58GHS 17.68
186.71%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.20฿595
$6.32GHS 70.7
187.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83฿60.0
$0.36GHS 3.98
408.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23฿106
$1.95GHS 21.81
65.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Takoradi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.89฿29.00
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.38฿634
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.35฿44.20
$1.56GHS 17.50
-13.46%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.35฿44.05
$1.22GHS 13.68
10.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.25฿270
$5.42GHS 60.7
52.21%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27฿41.64
$1.13GHS 12.62
12.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K฿691.8K
$8,026GHS 89.8K
163.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K฿735.3K
$9,606GHS 107.5K
134.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Takoradi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.2฿2,294
$54.6GHS 611
28.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77฿450
$13.25GHS 148
3.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.60฿575
$38.31GHS 429
-54.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Takoradi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.57฿1,360
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.60฿216
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.78฿189
$9.66GHS 108
-40.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Takoradi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306฿10.0K
$71.8GHS 803
326.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8K฿484.8K
$8,055GHS 90.1K
84.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Takoradi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.4฿1,778
$14.69GHS 164
270.12%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.14฿855
$18.70GHS 209
39.79%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.5฿2,764
$29.08GHS 325
190.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.4฿2,270
$42.10GHS 471
64.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Takoradi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$424฿13.9K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$238฿7,788
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$825฿27.0K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$515฿16.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,049฿67.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,523฿49.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Takoradi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$635฿20.8K
-
-
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: April 27, 2026
Last update for Takoradi: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $47.00 in Takoradi. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $181 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 79% more than Takoradi, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $714 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 $47.00 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 34% 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 $852 in Chiang Mai and $476 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 $476 versus $852 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