Cost of Living Comparison Between Homa Bay and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Homa Bay and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $58.7 per month in Homa Bay vs $920 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $453 per month in Homa Bay vs $1,408 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $848 per month in Homa Bay vs $1,895 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Homa Bay is about 94% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Homa Bay and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Homa Bay 96% lower, Chiang Mai 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.11 ฿69.1

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$148 KES 19.1K

$19.75 ฿648

646.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.50 KES 1,359

$5.85 ฿192

79.49%

Cappuccino

$1.76 ฿57.8

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

$0.74 ฿24.37

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.03 KES 133

$0.33 ฿10.90

212.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.48 KES 321

$2.47 ฿81.0

0.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.14 KES 665

$3.88 ฿127

32.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ฿62.4

White Bread (500g)

$1.67 ฿54.7

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.35 ฿44.24

Eggs

$2.14 ฿70.2

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿521

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.83 ฿92.9

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.53 ฿345

Apples (1kg)

$2.38 ฿78.2

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.01

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.79

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿49.30

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿41.96

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.17

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 ฿22.54

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.18

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿140

Wine (Bottle)

$16.78 ฿550

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 ฿54.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 ฿92.3

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.44

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.9 ฿1,801

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 ฿39.24

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 ฿17.78

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.37 ฿77.9

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 ฿46.88

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

$21.1K ฿691.5K

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

$27.1K ฿890.2K

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

$64.7 ฿2,124

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

$13.19 ฿433

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.44 ฿638

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.45 ฿1,294

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿124

Cinema Ticket

$6.62 ฿217

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

$805 ฿26.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿496.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.8 ฿1,796

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.43 ฿834

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.9 ฿3,015

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.7 ฿2,449

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$467 ฿15.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$282 ฿9,251

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,985 ฿65.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,462 ฿48.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$592 ฿19.4K

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 Homa Bay: August 15, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 17, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $148 in Homa Bay versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Use this as a proxy for overall food spending across the two cities.

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

Homa Bay vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 1469% more than Homa Bay, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $88.0 per month in Homa Bay and $1,380 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 $58.7 in Homa Bay and $920 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $148 in Homa Bay and $20.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Homa Bay, where all-in costs run around $58.7, than in Chiang Mai at $920. In Homa Bay 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. Homa Bay costs $58.7 versus $920 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 Homa Bay. 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.