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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $583 per month in Gafsa vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $886 per month in Gafsa vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,190 per month in Gafsa vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Gafsa is about 32% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Gafsa and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Gafsa 56% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gafsa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.81 TND 11.00
$1.96 ฿64.0
94.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$9.81 TND 28.35
$18.81 ฿615
-47.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.61 TND 7.55
$7.92 ฿259
-67.05%
Cappuccino
$0.62 TND 1.78
$1.91 ฿62.6
-67.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 TND 1.43
$0.84 ฿27.41
-41.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23 TND 0.66
$0.35 ฿11.51
-34.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.66 TND 4.78
$2.21 ฿72.1
-24.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79 TND 8.06
$3.80 ฿124
-26.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gafsa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.50 TND 1.44
$1.64 ฿53.5
-69.51%
White Bread (500g)
$0.15 TND 0.43
$1.62 ฿53.1
-90.74%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.63 TND 4.72
$1.18 ฿38.62
38.14%
Eggs
$1.03 TND 2.97
$2.01 ฿65.8
-48.76%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.60 TND 30.62
$15.89 ฿520
-33.29%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.05 TND 17.48
$3.01 ฿98.5
101.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.47 TND 33.14
$10.77 ฿352
6.50%
Apples (1kg)
$1.41 TND 4.07
$2.61 ฿85.5
-45.98%
Banana (1kg)
$3.09 TND 8.92
$1.22 ฿39.88
153.28%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.83 TND 2.40
$1.70 ฿55.7
-51.18%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.70 TND 2.01
$1.58 ฿51.5
-55.70%
Potato (1kg)
$0.69 TND 2.01
$1.32 ฿43.14
-47.73%
Onion (1kg)
$0.48 TND 1.40
$1.17 ฿38.23
-58.97%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.43 TND 1.24
$0.67 ฿21.98
-35.82%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.30 TND 0.87
$0.56 ฿18.32
-46.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.57 TND 7.44
$4.53 ฿148
-43.27%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.58 TND 21.91
$18.20 ฿595
-58.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.35 TND 3.89
$1.83 ฿60.0
-26.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64 TND 4.74
$3.23 ฿106
-49.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Gafsa
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.35 TND 1.03
$0.89 ฿29.00
-60.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.09 TND 32.04
$19.38 ฿634
-42.78%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.29 TND 0.83
$1.35 ฿44.20
-78.52%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.22 TND 0.63
$1.35 ฿44.05
-83.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.37 TND 9.75
$8.25 ฿270
-59.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.88 TND 2.55
$1.27 ฿41.64
-30.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.6K TND 111.7K
$21.2K ฿691.8K
82.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.2K TND 93.2K
$22.5K ฿735.3K
43.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gafsa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.70 TND 118
$70.2 ฿2,294
-41.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.35 TND 24.14
$13.77 ฿450
-39.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.14 TND 55.3
$17.60 ฿575
8.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gafsa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$15.09 TND 43.60
$41.57 ฿1,360
-63.70%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.57 TND 36.32
$6.60 ฿216
90.45%
Cinema Ticket
$5.30 TND 15.33
$5.78 ฿189
-8.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gafsa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$62.0 TND 179
$306 ฿10.0K
-79.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,002 TND 2,895
$14.8K ฿484.8K
-93.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gafsa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.40 TND 120
$54.4 ฿1,778
-23.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.3 TND 154
$26.14 ฿855
103.83%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.7 TND 274
$84.5 ฿2,764
12.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.3 TND 235
$69.4 ฿2,270
17.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gafsa
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$145 TND 418
$424 ฿13.9K
-65.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$100 TND 289
$238 ฿7,788
-57.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$210 TND 606
$825 ฿27.0K
-74.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$152 TND 439
$515 ฿16.8K
-70.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$952 TND 2,750
$2,049 ฿67.0K
-53.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$356 TND 1,028
$1,523 ฿49.8K
-76.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gafsa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$308 TND 889
$635 ฿20.8K
-51.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.88
5
77.60%

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

Last update for Gafsa: April 28, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $145 in Gafsa versus $424 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 106% 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 $10.00 in Gafsa versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $179 vs $243 – making Gafsa 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
Gafsa vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Gafsa or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 46% more than Gafsa, 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 Gafsa vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $874 per month in Gafsa and $1,278 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Gafsa or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Gafsa, 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 Gafsa and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $62.0 per month in Gafsa and $306 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 Gafsa or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 36% 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 Gafsa or Chiang Mai?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $583 in Gafsa and $852 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Gafsa or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Gafsa costs $583 versus $852 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Gafsa 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 Gafsa or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Gafsa. 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.

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