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

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $376 per month in Garissa vs $947 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $657 per month in Garissa vs $1,411 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $938 per month in Garissa vs $1,874 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Garissa is about 60% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Garissa and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Garissa 73% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.69 KES 1,512

$2.08 ฿68.6

462.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.22 KES 3,005

$19.64 ฿646

18.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿186

Cappuccino

$7.79 KES 1,008

$1.81 ฿59.4

330.39%

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

$1.97 KES 255

$0.71 ฿23.45

177.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.14 KES 148

$0.32 ฿10.38

256.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿73.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿119

Milk (1 liter)

$0.52 KES 67.0

$1.96 ฿64.4

-73.47%

White Bread (500g)

$0.59 KES 76.7

$1.50 ฿49.39

-60.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.44 KES 186

$1.34 ฿43.93

7.46%

Eggs

$1.92 KES 248

$2.26 ฿74.5

-15.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿535

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.35 KES 822

$2.95 ฿97.1

115.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.36 KES 694

$9.94 ฿327

-46.08%

Apples (1kg)

$3.95 KES 511

$2.57 ฿84.6

53.70%

Banana (1kg)

$3.05 KES 395

$1.06 ฿34.73

187.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.52 KES 584

$1.61 ฿53.0

180.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.74 KES 95.9

$1.52 ฿49.97

-51.32%

Potato (1kg)

$1.25 KES 162

$1.27 ฿41.77

-1.57%

Onion (1kg)

$1.56 KES 201

$1.07 ฿35.06

45.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.30 KES 298

$0.72 ฿23.68

219.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 KES 66.5

$0.51 ฿16.72

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿138

Wine (Bottle)

$5.89 KES 762

$17.87 ฿587

-67.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 KES 217

$1.69 ฿55.7

-0.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 KES 490

$2.84 ฿93.3

33.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.43

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,771

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.59

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿18.96

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿79.7

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.43

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

$21.4K ฿705.1K

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

$27.3K ฿898.7K

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

$63.7 ฿2,093

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

$12.85 ฿423

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿665

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,274

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿222

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

$778 ฿25.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿480.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,785

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿837

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,102

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,415

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,512

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿48.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$132 KES 17.1K

$602 ฿19.8K

-78.05%

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 Garissa: August 31, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 356% 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 $23.00 in Garissa versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $182 in Garissa vs $240 in Chiang Mai – so Garissa 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

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

Chiang Mai costs about 152% more than Garissa, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $564 per month in Garissa and $1,421 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $376 in Garissa and $947 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 32% 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.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Garissa, where all-in costs run around $376, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Garissa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Garissa costs $376 versus $947 in Chiang Mai. 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 Garissa. 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.