Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Gabane and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Gabane: $117 a month against $935 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $9,800 less a year.

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Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index

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Gabane

🇧🇼 Botswana

$117

/mo nomad

Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$935

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Gabane and in Chiang Mai

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Gabane and in Chiang Mai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $117 per month in Gabane vs $935 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Gabane $117
Chiang Mai $935

A couple spends around $162 per month in Gabane vs $1,467 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Gabane $162
Chiang Mai $1,467

A family of three spends $208 per month in Gabane vs $1,999 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Gabane $208
Chiang Mai $1,999

Gabane is about 87% cheaper than Chiang Mai.

Both Gabane and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Gabane 91% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.13 ฿72.0

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.62 ฿628

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.60 ฿189

Cappuccino

$1.66 ฿56.1

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

$0.65 ฿21.83

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ฿10.29

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 ฿78.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿124

Milk (1 liter)

$2.02 ฿68.0

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ฿47.51

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.96

Eggs

$2.37 ฿79.9

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.52 ฿557

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.67 ฿90.1

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.02 ฿304

Apples (1kg)

$2.40 ฿80.9

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 ฿35.13

Oranges (1kg)

$1.66 ฿56.0

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 ฿52.6

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.76

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.66

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 ฿25.70

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿17.35

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.12 ฿139

Wine (Bottle)

$17.93 ฿605

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 ฿54.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 ฿95.2

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿31.53

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$52.9 ฿1,785

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ฿39.70

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.17 ฿5.79

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 ฿61.1

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ฿49.69

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

$21.0K ฿708.9K

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

$26.5K ฿894.6K

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

$62.6 ฿2,111

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

$11.60 ฿392

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.30 ฿685

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.88 ฿1,278

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.70 ฿125

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 ฿220

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

$727 ฿24.5K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.6K ฿559.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.5 ฿1,807

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.80 ฿837

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.4 ฿3,050

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.0 ฿2,428

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$161 P 2,161

$481 ฿16.2K

-66.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$117 P 1,573

$310 ฿10.5K

-62.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$299 P 4,029

$1,058 ฿35.7K

-71.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$208 P 2,798

$659 ฿22.2K

-68.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,418 ฿81.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,609 ฿54.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿20.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Gabane: November 2, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Gabane

–

Chiang Mai

$310 33.1%

Groceries & Markets

Gabane

–

Chiang Mai

$237 25.3%

Clothing & Footwear

Gabane

–

Chiang Mai

$108 11.6%

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Gabane

–

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Eating Out

Gabane

–

Chiang Mai

$77 8.2%

Getting Around

Gabane

–

Chiang Mai

$59 6.3%

Sport & Entertainment

Gabane

–

Chiang Mai

$51 5.4%

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $161 in Gabane versus $481 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.

Good to know

🇧🇼 Gabane

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🕒 Local time

14:10 2:10 PM

19:10 7:10 PM

5 h ahead of Gabane

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

14,842

127,240

💱 Currency

Botswana Pula BWP P

Thai Baht THB ฿

📈 Exchange rate

100 BWP = 7.43 USD

100 BWP = 6.64 EUR

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.65 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to BWP – Botswana Pula Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇧🇼 Botswana Pula (P)

Botswana Pula exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 13.45 BWP (100 BWP = 7.43 USD). 1 EUR = 15.06 BWP (100 BWP = 6.64 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 33.74 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.77 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

USD to BWP in detail →

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Gabane Chiang Mai 9,280 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight

From you

Gabane
Chiang Mai

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

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

Chiang Mai costs about 700% more than Gabane, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $175 per month in Gabane and $1,403 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Gabane, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $161 there versus $481 in Chiang Mai.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $117 in Gabane to $935 in Chiang Mai. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.