🙂A single person spends $466 per month in Ilesha vs $920 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $798 per month in Ilesha vs $1,408 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,129 per month in Ilesha vs $1,895 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Ilesha is about 49% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Ilesha and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Ilesha66% lower, Chiang Mai33% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ilesha
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.66₦4,930
$2.11฿69.1
73.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.25₦66.3K
$19.75฿648
149.37%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.59₦10.2K
$5.85฿192
29.74%
Cappuccino
$2.75₦3,701
$1.76฿57.8
56.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44₦588
$0.74฿24.37
-40.54%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25₦337
$0.33฿10.90
-24.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.99₦1,329
$2.47฿81.0
-59.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97₦2,657
$3.88฿127
-49.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ilesha
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$3.16₦4,260
$1.90฿62.4
66.32%
White Bread(500g)
$1.47₦1,975
$1.67฿54.7
-11.98%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.26₦1,691
$1.35฿44.24
-6.67%
Eggs
$2.14₦2,883
$2.14฿70.2
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.59₦4,836
$15.89฿521
-77.41%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.80₦5,116
$2.83฿92.9
34.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.47₦6,023
$10.53฿345
-57.55%
Apples(1kg)
$1.61₦2,163
$2.38฿78.2
-32.35%
Banana(1kg)
$1.26₦1,703
$1.07฿35.01
17.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.13₦1,520
$1.52฿49.79
-25.66%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.27₦1,712
$1.50฿49.30
-15.33%
Potato(1kg)
$1.35₦1,821
$1.28฿41.96
5.47%
Onion(1kg)
$1.30₦1,751
$1.10฿36.17
18.18%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.82₦1,102
$0.69฿22.54
18.84%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.39₦521
$0.49฿16.18
-20.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$0.57₦761
$4.27฿140
-86.65%
Wine(Bottle)
$2.60₦3,494
$16.78฿550
-84.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.52₦702
$1.66฿54.4
-68.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45₦604
$2.81฿92.3
-83.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Ilesha
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.90฿29.44
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$54.9฿1,801
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.64₦862
$1.20฿39.24
-46.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.94₦1,268
$0.54฿17.78
74.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.08₦2,804
$2.37฿77.9
-12.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.81₦1,091
$1.43฿46.88
-43.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$11.2K₦15.1M
$21.1K฿691.5K
-46.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$13.3K₦17.9M
$27.1K฿890.2K
-51.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ilesha
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$110₦148.7K
$64.7฿2,124
70.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.16₦21.7K
$13.19฿433
22.52%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.41₦34.2K
$19.44฿638
30.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ilesha
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$39.45฿1,294
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.77฿124
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.50₦6,052
$6.62฿217
-32.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ilesha
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$657₦884.3K
$805฿26.4K
-18.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$19.7K₦26.5M
$15.1K฿496.1K
30.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ilesha
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$14.44₦19.4K
$54.8฿1,796
-73.63%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.48₦27.6K
$25.43฿834
-19.47%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$36.30₦48.9K
$91.9฿3,015
-60.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$51.7₦69.6K
$74.7฿2,449
-30.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ilesha
Chiang Mai
Difference
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
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ilesha
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$592฿19.4K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
18.05
5.57
224.06%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ilesha: August 17, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: August 17, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $49.00 in Ilesha versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $153 in Ilesha vs $237 in Chiang Mai – so Ilesha 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
Ilesha vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ilesha or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 98% more than Ilesha, 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 Ilesha and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $699 per month in Ilesha and $1,380 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do dining costs compare in Ilesha and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $49.00 in Ilesha and $20.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Ilesha or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 55% 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 $1,500/month in Ilesha or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ilesha, where all-in costs run around $466, than in Chiang Mai at $920. In Ilesha it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ilesha or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ilesha costs $466 versus $920 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Ilesha 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 Ilesha or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Ilesha. 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.