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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $612 in Tozeur, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $950 in Tozeur, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,288 in Tozeur, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 52% more than Tozeur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Tozeur are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Tozeur 55% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Tozeur
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.08 ฿69.2
$2.47 TND 7.18
-15.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.61 ฿652
$12.20 TND 35.49
60.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.67 ฿189
$5.24 TND 15.24
8.21%
Cappuccino
$1.81 ฿60.0
$0.76 TND 2.20
138.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 ฿25.55
$0.65 TND 1.88
18.46%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.48
$0.26 TND 0.75
34.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ฿73.6
$1.59 TND 4.62
38.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 ฿126
$2.11 TND 6.13
79.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Tozeur
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.05 ฿68.1
$0.48 TND 1.39
327.08%
White Bread (500g)
$1.51 ฿50.4
$0.15 TND 0.42
906.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.40 ฿46.51
$0.53 TND 1.53
164.15%
Eggs
$2.26 ฿75.1
$1.50 TND 4.35
50.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.19 ฿538
$10.30 TND 29.95
57.18%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.90 ฿96.3
$5.85 TND 17.01
-50.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.42 ฿313
$12.16 TND 35.38
-22.53%
Apples (1kg)
$2.68 ฿89.1
$1.87 TND 5.45
43.32%
Banana (1kg)
$1.09 ฿36.23
$2.10 TND 6.12
-48.10%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.62 ฿53.8
$1.11 TND 3.23
45.95%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.46 ฿48.55
$0.70 TND 2.04
108.57%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 ฿42.48
$0.84 TND 2.45
52.38%
Onion (1kg)
$1.06 ฿35.17
$0.83 TND 2.40
27.71%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿23.85
$0.56 TND 1.62
28.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.49
$0.32 TND 0.94
65.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.23 ฿141
$3.86 TND 11.24
9.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.29 ฿608
$6.77 TND 19.68
170.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 ฿54.2
$1.20 TND 3.48
35.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90 ฿96.5
$1.06 TND 3.07
173.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Tozeur
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 ฿29.20
$0.32 TND 0.94
175.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.8 ฿1,788
$10.39 TND 30.24
417.52%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.17 ฿38.99
$0.32 TND 0.93
265.62%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.58 ฿19.22
$0.33 TND 0.95
75.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.39 ฿79.3
$7.42 TND 21.59
-67.79%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.22
$0.88 TND 2.56
64.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K ฿698.6K
$34.2K TND 99.4K
-38.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K ฿878.6K
$33.9K TND 98.5K
-21.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Tozeur
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$63.7 ฿2,116
$47.04 TND 137
35.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.89 ฿429
$9.92 TND 28.86
29.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.52 ฿682
$14.90 TND 43.36
37.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Tozeur
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.02 ฿1,297
$27.12 TND 78.9
43.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.92 ฿130
$14.31 TND 41.63
-72.61%
Cinema Ticket
$6.58 ฿219
$4.49 TND 13.07
46.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Tozeur
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$784 ฿26.1K
$100 TND 292
681.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ฿487.9K
$2,556 TND 7,437
473.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Tozeur
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.1 ฿1,833
$43.88 TND 128
25.59%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.74 ฿823
$36.57 TND 106
-32.35%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.1 ฿3,130
$102 TND 298
-8.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.0 ฿2,459
$50.6 TND 147
46.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Tozeur
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$490 ฿16.3K
$213 TND 619
130.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$288 ฿9,582
$157 TND 456
83.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$891 ฿29.6K
$373 TND 1,086
138.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$521 ฿17.3K
$282 TND 820
84.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,974 ฿65.6K
$977 TND 2,841
102.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,444 ฿48.0K
$630 TND 1,833
129.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Tozeur
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$602 ฿20.0K
$314 TND 912
91.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
13.6
-59.04%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Tozeur: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $213 in Tozeur. 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 92% 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 $12.00 in Tozeur. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $173 – making Tozeur the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Tozeur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Tozeur?
Chiang Mai costs about 52% more than Tozeur, 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 Tozeur?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $918 in Tozeur. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Tozeur?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Tozeur, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Tozeur?
Kindergarten costs $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $100 in Tozeur. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or in Tozeur?
Groceries cost about 39% 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 $1,500/month in Chiang Mai or in Tozeur?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Tozeur, where all-in costs run around $612, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Tozeur it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Tozeur?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Tozeur costs $612 versus $932 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 Tozeur?
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 Tozeur?
If budget matters most, go with Tozeur. 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.

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