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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $743 in Tunis, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,178 in Tunis, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,613 in Tunis, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 17% more than Tunis, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Tunis are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Tunis 45% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Tunis
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.98 ฿65.0
$5.17 TND 15.02
-61.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.80 ฿619
$25.01 TND 72.7
-24.83%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.75 ฿255
$4.99 TND 14.48
55.31%
Cappuccino
$1.92 ฿63.2
$1.02 TND 2.98
88.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79 ฿26.07
$0.75 TND 2.18
5.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ฿11.74
$0.26 TND 0.75
38.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ฿72.9
$1.66 TND 4.82
33.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 ฿120
$2.72 TND 7.91
34.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Tunis
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.65 ฿54.4
$0.47 TND 1.35
251.06%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 ฿53.7
$0.18 TND 0.53
805.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿39.28
$1.74 TND 5.05
-31.61%
Eggs
$2.00 ฿65.8
$1.55 TND 4.49
29.03%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.98 ฿526
$10.48 TND 30.45
52.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.03 ฿99.6
$6.05 TND 17.57
-49.92%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.86 ฿357
$14.55 TND 42.27
-25.36%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 ฿90.9
$2.10 TND 6.10
31.43%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 ฿38.83
$3.73 TND 10.83
-68.36%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.64 ฿54.0
$1.18 TND 3.41
38.98%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.52 ฿50.0
$0.70 TND 2.03
117.14%
Potato (1kg)
$1.38 ฿45.59
$0.71 TND 2.06
94.37%
Onion (1kg)
$1.19 ฿39.25
$0.64 TND 1.85
85.94%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.70 ฿23.11
$0.47 TND 1.35
48.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿18.32
$0.29 TND 0.84
93.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.58 ฿151
$3.43 TND 9.97
33.53%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.56 ฿545
$7.79 TND 22.64
112.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83 ฿60.2
$1.27 TND 3.70
44.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 ฿105
$1.56 TND 4.53
105.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Tunis
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 ฿28.87
$0.36 TND 1.04
144.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.72 ฿616
$14.13 TND 41.04
32.48%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ฿44.64
$0.30 TND 0.86
353.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.34 ฿44.12
$0.31 TND 0.89
332.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.84 ฿258
$3.30 TND 9.58
137.58%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 ฿40.35
$0.87 TND 2.52
41.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K ฿711.8K
$40.8K TND 118.6K
-47.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K ฿742.2K
$37.8K TND 109.7K
-40.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Tunis
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.5 ฿2,322
$59.0 TND 171
19.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.68 ฿450
$9.56 TND 27.77
43.10%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.45 ฿574
$20.96 TND 60.9
-16.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Tunis
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.33 ฿1,361
$34.45 TND 100
19.97%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.96 ฿229
$13.98 TND 40.62
-50.21%
Cinema Ticket
$5.77 ฿190
$5.29 TND 15.38
9.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Tunis
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$307 ฿10.1K
$109 TND 316
182.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.6K ฿481.0K
$3,312 TND 9,621
341.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Tunis
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8 ฿1,837
$44.53 TND 129
25.29%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.21 ฿863
$61.4 TND 178
-57.31%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.8 ฿2,823
$94.9 TND 276
-9.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.2 ฿2,378
$81.1 TND 236
-10.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Tunis
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$430 ฿14.1K
$280 TND 815
53.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$239 ฿7,857
$177 TND 515
34.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$817 ฿26.9K
$478 TND 1,388
71.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$511 ฿16.8K
$294 TND 854
73.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,983 ฿65.3K
$1,426 TND 4,142
39.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,484 ฿48.9K
$777 TND 2,258
90.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Tunis
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$619 ฿20.4K
$367 TND 1,065
68.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
10.96
-54.38%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Last update for Tunis: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $280 in Tunis. 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 69% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $25.00 in Tunis. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $200 in Tunis – so Tunis 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 Tunis: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Tunis?
Chiang Mai costs about 17% more than Tunis, 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 Tunis?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,115 in Tunis. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Tunis?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Tunis, 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 Tunis?
Kindergarten costs $307 per month in Chiang Mai and $109 in Tunis. 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 Tunis?
Groceries cost about 21% 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 $1,200/month in Chiang Mai or Tunis?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $869 in Chiang Mai and $743 in Tunis, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Tunis?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Tunis costs $743 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 Tunis?
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 Tunis?
If budget matters most, go with Tunis. 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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