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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $987 per month in Ibb vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,658 per month in Ibb vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,329 per month in Ibb vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Ibb costs about 14% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Ibb and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Ibb 26% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.85 YER 1,633

$1.94 ฿63.5

253.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.65 YER 9,687

$18.64 ฿609

118.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.50 YER 2,978

$7.82 ฿255

59.85%

Cappuccino

$2.08 YER 495

$1.95 ฿63.8

6.67%

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

$1.60 YER 382

$0.85 ฿27.77

88.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 YER 119

$0.35 ฿11.58

42.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$3.26 YER 778

$1.71 ฿56.0

90.64%

White Bread (500g)

$1.16 YER 276

$1.63 ฿53.2

-28.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.74 YER 1,131

$1.14 ฿37.15

315.79%

Eggs

$6.43 YER 1,531

$1.93 ฿63.1

233.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.11 YER 2,172

$16.21 ฿530

-43.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.60 YER 3,002

$3.12 ฿102

303.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$27.63 YER 6,585

$10.90 ฿356

153.49%

Apples (1kg)

$5.80 YER 1,382

$2.75 ฿90.0

110.91%

Banana (1kg)

$2.17 YER 517

$1.21 ฿39.52

79.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.45 YER 1,537

$1.62 ฿53.0

298.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.67 YER 876

$1.59 ฿51.8

130.82%

Potato (1kg)

$2.32 YER 554

$1.40 ฿45.70

65.71%

Onion (1kg)

$2.02 YER 481

$1.17 ฿38.17

72.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 YER 186

$0.66 ฿21.60

18.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.40 YER 334

$0.53 ฿17.22

164.15%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.34 YER 795

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.04 YER 963

$4.69 ฿153

-13.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.08 YER 496

$1.41 ฿45.91

47.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

Gasoline (1 liter)

$3.99 YER 952

$1.27 ฿41.58

214.17%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

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

$90.8 YER 21.6K

$69.1 ฿2,256

31.49%

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

$15.33 YER 3,652

$14.08 ฿460

8.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$77.6 YER 18.5K

$18.00 ฿588

330.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.6 YER 19.2K

$41.06 ฿1,341

96.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

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

$28.67 YER 6,833

$299 ฿9,766

-90.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,323 YER 791.9K

$15.0K ฿488.3K

-77.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.35 YER 6,993

$54.7 ฿1,787

-46.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$48.95 YER 11.7K

$85.0 ฿2,776

-42.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$57.5 YER 13.7K

$70.6 ฿2,306

-18.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$216 YER 51.5K

$428 ฿14.0K

-49.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$160 YER 38.2K

$237 ฿7,752

-32.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$571 YER 136.1K

$801 ฿26.2K

-28.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$395 YER 94.1K

$515 ฿16.8K

-23.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$352 YER 83.9K

$617 ฿20.2K

-43.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Ibb: June 1, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $216 in Ibb 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 75% higher in Chiang Mai, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $41.00 in Ibb versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $379 vs $246 – making Chiang Mai 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

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

Ibb costs about 14% more than Chiang Mai, 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 $1,480 per month in Ibb and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $41.00 in Ibb and $19.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 54% more in Ibb, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $987 in Ibb and $866 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $987 in Ibb. 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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ibb makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.