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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,318 per month in Dakar vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,218 per month in Dakar vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,117 per month in Dakar vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Dakar costs about 53% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Dakar and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Dakar 1% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.43 F CFA 3,114

$1.96 ฿65.9

177.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.2 F CFA 29.9K

$18.35 ฿617

184.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.20 F CFA 5,849

$7.48 ฿252

36.36%

Cappuccino

$4.37 F CFA 2,509

$2.02 ฿67.8

116.34%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.89 F CFA 511

$0.85 ฿28.52

4.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.08 F CFA 620

$0.36 ฿11.97

200.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.70 F CFA 1,551

$2.14 ฿71.9

26.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.51 F CFA 2,584

$3.59 ฿121

25.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.57 F CFA 1,474

$1.65 ฿55.5

55.76%

White Bread (500g)

$0.67 F CFA 385

$1.57 ฿52.7

-57.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 F CFA 927

$1.19 ฿40.05

36.13%

Eggs

$2.76 F CFA 1,582

$1.94 ฿65.1

42.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.68 F CFA 7,271

$16.19 ฿545

-21.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.44 F CFA 5,416

$2.99 ฿101

215.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.61 F CFA 6,088

$10.94 ฿368

-3.02%

Apples (1kg)

$2.80 F CFA 1,603

$2.71 ฿91.2

3.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 F CFA 1,137

$1.17 ฿39.27

69.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.58 F CFA 1,481

$1.69 ฿56.8

52.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.14 F CFA 1,227

$1.60 ฿54.0

33.75%

Potato (1kg)

$1.54 F CFA 882

$1.38 ฿46.56

11.59%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 F CFA 771

$1.20 ฿40.47

11.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 F CFA 614

$0.67 ฿22.51

59.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 F CFA 468

$0.56 ฿18.74

46.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.55 F CFA 892

$4.64 ฿156

-66.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.02 F CFA 9,762

$17.62 ฿593

-3.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 F CFA 648

$1.86 ฿62.6

-39.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 F CFA 1,282

$3.30 ฿111

-32.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 F CFA 208

$0.88 ฿29.70

-59.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$79.0 F CFA 45.3K

$19.34 ฿651

308.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.58 F CFA 1,478

$1.36 ฿45.92

89.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.80 F CFA 1,607

$1.34 ฿45.00

108.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.55 F CFA 10.1K

$8.21 ฿276

113.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.78 F CFA 1,021

$1.22 ฿41.20

45.90%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$36.9K F CFA 21.2M

$21.4K ฿718.5K

72.74%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$50.1K F CFA 28.7M

$22.5K ฿758.1K

122.24%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$140 F CFA 80.1K

$70.7 ฿2,378

97.59%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.57 F CFA 5,488

$14.04 ฿472

-31.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.00 F CFA 28.1K

$17.49 ฿589

180.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.5 F CFA 31.8K

$42.15 ฿1,418

31.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.51 F CFA 12.3K

$6.88 ฿231

212.65%

Cinema Ticket

$8.75 F CFA 5,019

$5.92 ฿199

47.80%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$268 F CFA 153.5K

$309 ฿10.4K

-13.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,349 F CFA 4.2M

$14.9K ฿500.7K

-50.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.1 F CFA 39.1K

$55.8 ฿1,876

22.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.58 F CFA 25.0K

$26.11 ฿879

66.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 F CFA 60.1K

$83.0 ฿2,793

26.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$128 F CFA 73.7K

$70.5 ฿2,371

82.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$931 F CFA 533.8K

$432 ฿14.5K

115.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$369 F CFA 211.5K

$239 ฿8,040

54.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,907 F CFA 1.1M

$822 ฿27.7K

131.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$933 F CFA 534.8K

$512 ฿17.2K

82.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,047 F CFA 2.9M

$1,915 ฿64.4K

163.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 F CFA 828.4K

$1,467 ฿49.4K

-1.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$420 F CFA 241.0K

$579 ฿19.5K

-27.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.25

65.00%

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

Last update for Dakar: July 11, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $931 in Dakar versus $432 in Chiang Mai. 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 38% higher in Chiang Mai, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $52.0 in Dakar versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $279 vs $243 – making Chiang Mai 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

Dakar vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Dakar costs about 53% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,977 per month in Dakar and $1,292 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $268 per month in Dakar and $309 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 15% more in Dakar, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $861, than in Dakar at $1,318. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Dakar it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $861 versus $1,318 in Dakar. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Dakar makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.