🙂A single person spends $581 per month in Gabes vs $920 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $908 per month in Gabes vs $1,408 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,234 per month in Gabes vs $1,895 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Gabes is about 37% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Gabes and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Gabes58% lower, Chiang Mai33% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gabes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.76TND 7.97
$2.11฿69.2
30.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.78TND 54.3
$19.75฿649
-4.91%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.52TND 10.17
$5.85฿192
-39.83%
Cappuccino
$0.78TND 2.27
$1.76฿57.8
-55.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74TND 2.15
$0.74฿24.40
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27TND 0.78
$0.33฿10.91
-18.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.17TND 3.37
$2.47฿81.1
-52.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58TND 4.56
$3.88฿127
-59.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gabes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.46TND 1.32
$1.90฿62.4
-75.79%
White Bread(500g)
$0.22TND 0.63
$1.67฿54.8
-86.83%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.27TND 3.69
$1.35฿44.30
-5.93%
Eggs
$1.64TND 4.74
$2.14฿70.2
-23.36%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.65TND 36.59
$15.89฿522
-20.39%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.78TND 16.72
$2.83฿93.0
104.24%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.23TND 41.17
$10.53฿346
35.14%
Apples(1kg)
$1.93TND 5.57
$2.38฿78.3
-18.91%
Banana(1kg)
$2.97TND 8.60
$1.07฿35.05
177.57%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.95TND 2.75
$1.52฿49.85
-37.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.71TND 2.06
$1.50฿49.36
-52.67%
Potato(1kg)
$0.83TND 2.41
$1.28฿42.01
-35.16%
Onion(1kg)
$0.58TND 1.67
$1.10฿36.22
-47.27%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.36TND 1.03
$0.69฿22.57
-47.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.29TND 0.85
$0.49฿16.20
-40.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.32TND 9.59
$4.27฿140
-22.25%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.45TND 9.97
$16.78฿551
-79.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.75TND 2.17
$1.66฿54.4
-54.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82TND 2.36
$2.81฿92.4
-70.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Gabes
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.18TND 0.51
$0.90฿29.48
-80.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$6.77TND 19.58
$54.9฿1,804
-87.67%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.30TND 0.86
$1.20฿39.29
-75.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.20TND 0.59
$0.54฿17.80
-62.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.98TND 11.50
$2.37฿78.0
67.93%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.85TND 2.45
$1.43฿46.94
-40.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.7KTND 114.9K
$21.1K฿692.4K
88.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.3KTND 84.9K
$27.1K฿891.3K
8.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gabes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$68.9TND 199
$64.7฿2,127
6.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.58TND 21.92
$13.19฿433
-42.53%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.85TND 48.73
$19.44฿639
-13.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gabes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$32.03TND 92.6
$39.45฿1,296
-18.81%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.65TND 13.46
$3.77฿124
23.34%
Cinema Ticket
$6.59TND 19.05
$6.62฿217
-0.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gabes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$58.6TND 169
$805฿26.5K
-92.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,083TND 8,915
$15.1K฿496.7K
-79.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gabes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.11TND 92.9
$54.8฿1,798
-41.35%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.45TND 120
$25.43฿835
63.00%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.4TND 221
$91.9฿3,019
-16.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108TND 313
$74.7฿2,452
44.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gabes
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$114TND 329
$467฿15.3K
-75.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$72.0TND 208
$282฿9,262
-74.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$202TND 583
$891฿29.3K
-77.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$118TND 340
$521฿17.1K
-77.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$968TND 2,799
$1,985฿65.2K
-51.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$622TND 1,798
$1,462฿48.0K
-57.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gabes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$424TND 1,226
$592฿19.4K
-28.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12
5.57
115.44%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Gabes: August 17, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: August 17, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $114 in Gabes versus $467 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 40% 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 Gabes versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $184 vs $237 – making Gabes 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
Gabes vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Gabes or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 58% more than Gabes, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. 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 Gabes and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $872 per month in Gabes and $1,380 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Gabes or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Gabes, 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 Gabes and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $58.6 per month in Gabes and $805 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Gabes or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 29% 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 $1,500/month in Gabes or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Gabes, where all-in costs run around $581, than in Chiang Mai at $920. In Gabes it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Gabes or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Gabes costs $581 versus $920 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Gabes compared to Chiang Mai?
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 Gabes or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Gabes. 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.