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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,970 per month in Freetown vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,723 per month in Freetown vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,475 per month in Freetown vs $1,855 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Freetown costs about 127% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Freetown sits 47% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.97 SLL 67.5K

$1.98 ฿64.3

50.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.35 SLL 734.6K

$18.80 ฿612

72.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.18 SLL 231.1K

$7.75 ฿252

31.35%

Cappuccino

$1.77 SLL 40.1K

$1.92 ฿62.5

-7.81%

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

$1.05 SLL 23.8K

$0.79 ฿25.79

32.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.85 SLL 19.2K

$0.36 ฿11.62

136.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.47 SLL 33.4K

$2.21 ฿72.1

-33.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 SLL 61.2K

$3.66 ฿119

-26.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.47 SLL 56.0K

$1.65 ฿53.8

49.70%

White Bread (500g)

$0.64 SLL 14.5K

$1.63 ฿53.2

-60.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 SLL 30.4K

$1.19 ฿38.86

12.61%

Eggs

$2.04 SLL 46.3K

$2.00 ฿65.1

2.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.28 SLL 165.4K

$15.98 ฿520

-54.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.32 SLL 166.3K

$3.03 ฿98.5

141.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.13 SLL 116.4K

$10.86 ฿354

-52.76%

Apples (1kg)

$3.94 SLL 89.4K

$2.76 ฿90.0

42.75%

Banana (1kg)

$2.03 SLL 46.0K

$1.18 ฿38.42

72.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.69 SLL 15.8K

$1.64 ฿53.5

-57.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.01 SLL 113.9K

$1.52 ฿49.51

229.61%

Potato (1kg)

$2.03 SLL 46.1K

$1.38 ฿45.10

47.10%

Onion (1kg)

$1.67 SLL 37.9K

$1.19 ฿38.84

40.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 SLL 22.4K

$0.70 ฿22.86

40.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 SLL 31.2K

$0.56 ฿18.13

146.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.02 SLL 68.5K

$4.58 ฿149

-34.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.51 SLL 170.5K

$16.56 ฿539

-54.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.15 SLL 26.2K

$1.83 ฿59.5

-37.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 SLL 45.5K

$3.20 ฿104

-37.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.47 SLL 10.7K

$0.88 ฿28.56

-46.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 SLL 17.5K

$1.36 ฿44.16

-43.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.28 SLL 29.1K

$1.34 ฿43.65

-4.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.14 SLL 116.8K

$7.84 ฿256

-34.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 SLL 31.0K

$1.23 ฿39.92

10.57%

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

$11.8K SLL 268.2M

$21.6K ฿704.3K

-45.38%

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

$25.2K SLL 572.2M

$22.5K ฿734.3K

11.75%

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

$147 SLL 3.3M

$70.5 ฿2,298

108.36%

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

$9.82 SLL 223.0K

$13.68 ฿445

-28.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$102 SLL 2.3M

$17.45 ฿568

482.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.6 SLL 1.1M

$41.33 ฿1,346

22.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

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

$307 ฿10.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$10.13 SLL 230.1K

$55.8 ฿1,817

-81.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$7.82 SLL 177.5K

$26.21 ฿854

-70.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$19.62 SLL 445.6K

$85.8 ฿2,793

-77.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$49.12 SLL 1.1M

$72.2 ฿2,353

-32.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$832 SLL 18.9M

$430 ฿14.0K

93.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,239 SLL 28.1M

$239 ฿7,774

418.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,119 SLL 48.1M

$817 ฿26.6K

159.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$99.4 SLL 2.3M

$511 ฿16.6K

-80.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,327 SLL 30.1M

$619 ฿20.2K

114.49%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Freetown: June 7, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $832 in Freetown versus $430 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 114% higher in Freetown, 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 $32.00 in Freetown versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $233 in Freetown vs $241 in Chiang Mai – so Freetown 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

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

Freetown costs about 127% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,955 per month in Freetown and $1,303 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,970 in Freetown and $869 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 4% cheaper in Freetown – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $869, than in Freetown at $1,970. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Freetown it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $869 versus $1,970 in Freetown. 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, Freetown makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.