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 $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $576 in Tozeur, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $934 in Tozeur, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,293 in Tozeur, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 50% more than Tozeur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Tozeur are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Tozeur 57% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Tozeur
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96 ฿65.8
$2.31 TND 6.77
-15.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.35 ฿617
$12.05 TND 35.27
52.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.48 ฿252
$3.48 TND 10.18
114.94%
Cappuccino
$2.02 ฿67.8
$0.72 TND 2.11
180.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 ฿28.50
$0.65 TND 1.90
30.77%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ฿11.96
$0.23 TND 0.67
56.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.14 ฿71.8
$1.49 TND 4.37
43.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59 ฿121
$1.98 TND 5.78
81.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Tozeur
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.65 ฿55.5
$0.48 TND 1.41
243.75%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ฿52.7
$0.16 TND 0.46
881.25%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿40.02
$0.49 TND 1.45
142.86%
Eggs
$1.94 ฿65.1
$1.48 TND 4.32
31.08%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.19 ฿544
$10.25 TND 29.99
57.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.99 ฿101
$5.78 TND 16.90
-48.27%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.94 ฿368
$11.82 TND 34.59
-7.45%
Apples (1kg)
$2.71 ฿91.2
$1.98 TND 5.79
36.87%
Banana (1kg)
$1.17 ฿39.25
$1.97 TND 5.77
-40.61%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.69 ฿56.7
$1.05 TND 3.08
60.95%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.60 ฿54.0
$0.74 TND 2.17
116.22%
Potato (1kg)
$1.38 ฿46.54
$0.79 TND 2.31
74.68%
Onion (1kg)
$1.20 ฿40.45
$0.76 TND 2.24
57.89%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.67 ฿22.50
$0.52 TND 1.52
28.85%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿18.73
$0.33 TND 0.97
69.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.64 ฿156
$3.58 TND 10.49
29.61%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.62 ฿593
$5.76 TND 16.87
205.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 ฿62.5
$1.15 TND 3.35
61.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30 ฿111
$1.04 TND 3.05
217.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Tozeur
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 ฿29.68
$0.36 TND 1.04
144.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.34 ฿650
$10.08 TND 29.51
91.87%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ฿45.90
$0.30 TND 0.87
353.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.34 ฿44.98
$0.31 TND 0.90
332.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.21 ฿276
$7.51 TND 21.99
9.32%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.22 ฿41.18
$0.88 TND 2.57
38.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K ฿718.1K
$33.4K TND 97.8K
-36.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K ฿757.7K
$34.4K TND 100.6K
-34.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Tozeur
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.7 ฿2,376
$45.43 TND 133
55.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.04 ฿472
$9.42 TND 27.56
49.04%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.49 ฿588
$15.11 TND 44.22
15.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Tozeur
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.15 ฿1,417
$29.91 TND 87.5
40.92%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88 ฿231
$12.90 TND 37.74
-46.67%
Cinema Ticket
$5.92 ฿199
$4.66 TND 13.62
27.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Tozeur
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$309 ฿10.4K
$108 TND 316
185.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.9K ฿500.4K
$2,501 TND 7,318
494.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Tozeur
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8 ฿1,875
$43.88 TND 128
27.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.11 ฿878
$44.39 TND 130
-41.18%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.0 ฿2,792
$99.8 TND 292
-16.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.5 ฿2,369
$50.5 TND 148
39.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Tozeur
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$432 ฿14.5K
$201 TND 590
114.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$239 ฿8,035
$135 TND 395
77.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$822 ฿27.7K
$380 TND 1,113
116.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$512 ฿17.2K
$271 TND 794
88.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,915 ฿64.4K
$1,077 TND 3,153
77.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,467 ฿49.3K
$589 TND 1,723
149.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Tozeur
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$579 ฿19.5K
$302 TND 884
91.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
13.6
-63.24%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Tozeur: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $201 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $12.00 in Tozeur. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $168 – 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 50% 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 $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $863 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 $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $108 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 45% 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 Tozeur?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $861 in Chiang Mai and $576 in Tozeur, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Tozeur?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Tozeur costs $576 versus $861 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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