😐A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $472 in Takoradi, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $827 in Takoradi, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,182 in Takoradi, rent included.
😐Chiang Mai costs about 80% more than Takoradi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Takoradi are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai36% lower, Takoradi65% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Takoradi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.04฿68.2
$4.44GHS 51.9
-54.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.71฿624
$47.46GHS 554
-60.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.86฿262
$7.99GHS 93.4
-1.63%
Cappuccino
$2.03฿67.7
$3.44GHS 40.14
-40.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80฿26.64
$0.95GHS 11.06
-15.79%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35฿11.68
$0.35GHS 4.09
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.14฿71.5
$1.50GHS 17.52
42.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.67฿122
$2.52GHS 29.47
45.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Takoradi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.73฿57.6
$1.54GHS 17.97
12.34%
White Bread(500g)
$1.57฿52.4
$1.14GHS 13.26
37.72%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.20฿39.99
$1.90GHS 22.16
-36.84%
Eggs
$1.97฿65.8
$2.36GHS 27.56
-16.53%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.23฿541
$10.99GHS 128
47.68%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.06฿102
$4.69GHS 54.8
-34.75%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.80฿360
$3.04GHS 35.53
255.26%
Apples(1kg)
$2.77฿92.3
$2.73GHS 31.88
1.47%
Banana(1kg)
$1.17฿38.94
$1.00GHS 11.70
17.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.71฿57.0
$1.19GHS 13.87
43.70%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.59฿53.2
$2.01GHS 23.45
-20.90%
Potato(1kg)
$1.39฿46.51
$2.49GHS 29.12
-44.18%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16฿38.56
$2.15GHS 25.11
-46.05%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.66฿22.05
$0.80GHS 9.39
-17.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52฿17.31
$0.30GHS 3.55
73.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.65฿155
$1.57GHS 18.34
196.18%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.78฿593
$7.09GHS 82.8
150.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79฿59.6
$0.33GHS 3.85
442.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.34฿111
$1.94GHS 22.67
72.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Takoradi
Difference
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
$1.62GHS 18.96
-12.96%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.34฿44.70
$1.18GHS 13.77
13.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.11฿270
$5.46GHS 63.8
48.53%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.23฿41.16
$1.07GHS 12.54
14.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K฿715.1K
$7,871GHS 91.9K
172.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K฿728.0K
$9,698GHS 113.3K
125.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Takoradi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$71.3฿2,379
$56.1GHS 656
27.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.01฿467
$13.31GHS 155
5.26%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.93฿598
$38.17GHS 446
-53.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Takoradi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.82฿1,362
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88฿230
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.72฿191
$9.93GHS 116
-42.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Takoradi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$308฿10.3K
$72.3GHS 844
326.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.7K฿489.7K
$8,207GHS 95.9K
78.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Takoradi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8฿1,860
$14.66GHS 171
280.42%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.04฿869
$18.96GHS 221
37.34%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.8฿2,829
$29.19GHS 341
190.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.0฿2,368
$40.96GHS 478
73.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Takoradi
Difference
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
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Takoradi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$595฿19.9K
-
-
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Takoradi: July 26, 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 – $244 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 80% 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 and in Takoradi?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,279 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 and in 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 in 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 in Takoradi?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $472 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 $472 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 to 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