🙂A single person spends $547 per month in Gabes vs $848 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $858 per month in Gabes vs $1,331 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,170 per month in Gabes vs $1,814 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Gabes is about 36% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Gabes and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Gabes59% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gabes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.81TND 8.18
$1.96฿63.6
43.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.47TND 53.7
$18.39฿598
0.44%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.61TND 10.50
$7.87฿256
-54.13%
Cappuccino
$0.79TND 2.29
$1.95฿63.4
-59.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70TND 2.02
$0.85฿27.57
-17.65%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27TND 0.79
$0.32฿10.52
-15.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.21TND 3.51
$2.14฿69.6
-43.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60TND 4.65
$3.68฿120
-56.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gabes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.49TND 1.43
$1.66฿53.9
-70.48%
White Bread(500g)
$0.17TND 0.50
$1.56฿50.7
-89.10%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.28TND 3.72
$1.19฿38.63
7.56%
Eggs
$1.75TND 5.07
$1.99฿64.7
-12.06%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.07TND 35.08
$16.24฿528
-25.68%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.47TND 15.91
$3.17฿103
72.56%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.60TND 39.54
$10.84฿352
25.46%
Apples(1kg)
$1.58TND 4.61
$2.65฿86.2
-40.38%
Banana(1kg)
$2.91TND 8.45
$1.22฿39.67
138.52%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.92TND 2.69
$1.65฿53.7
-44.24%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.62TND 1.79
$1.55฿50.3
-60.00%
Potato(1kg)
$0.70TND 2.03
$1.33฿43.17
-47.37%
Onion(1kg)
$0.60TND 1.75
$1.21฿39.43
-50.41%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.36TND 1.04
$0.68฿22.04
-47.06%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.29TND 0.84
$0.57฿18.38
-49.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.38TND 9.82
$4.68฿152
-27.78%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.34TND 9.71
$16.99฿552
-80.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.68TND 1.98
$1.82฿59.3
-62.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83TND 2.43
$3.18฿103
-73.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Gabes
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.19TND 0.54
$0.91฿29.46
-79.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$6.59TND 19.15
$18.74฿609
-64.83%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.31TND 0.91
$1.41฿45.80
-78.01%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.19TND 0.54
$1.34฿43.52
-85.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.04TND 17.55
$8.14฿265
-25.80%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.86TND 2.51
$1.28฿41.53
-32.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$46.2KTND 134.2K
$21.8K฿709.3K
111.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.2KTND 82.1K
$22.4K฿728.0K
26.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gabes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$65.2TND 190
$70.5฿2,291
-7.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.40TND 21.53
$14.05฿457
-47.33%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.23TND 50.1
$17.65฿574
-2.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gabes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$32.48TND 94.4
$41.29฿1,342
-21.34%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.79TND 13.93
$6.76฿220
-29.14%
Cinema Ticket
$6.27TND 18.22
$5.96฿194
5.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gabes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$57.6TND 168
$303฿9,846
-80.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,243TND 9,428
$15.0K฿486.2K
-78.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gabes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.49TND 94.5
$54.7฿1,778
-40.60%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.17TND 117
$26.29฿854
52.80%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.1TND 224
$85.8฿2,788
-10.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.7TND 243
$69.7฿2,265
20.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gabes
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$115TND 334
$428฿13.9K
-73.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$71.2TND 207
$239฿7,769
-70.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$206TND 597
$811฿26.4K
-74.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$121TND 351
$510฿16.6K
-76.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,029TND 2,991
$2,025฿65.8K
-49.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$641TND 1,864
$1,502฿48.8K
-57.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gabes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$424TND 1,232
$623฿20.2K
-31.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12
5
140.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Gabes: June 14, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: June 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $115 in Gabes versus $428 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 47% 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 $18.00 in Gabes versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $175 vs $242 – 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 55% more than Gabes, 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 Gabes vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $820 per month in Gabes and $1,272 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 Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $57.6 per month in Gabes and $303 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 Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 38% 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 $1,000/month in Gabes or Chiang Mai?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $547 in Gabes and $848 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Gabes or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Gabes costs $547 versus $848 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 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.