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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $396 per month in Kaduna vs $845 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $740 per month in Kaduna vs $1,323 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,085 per month in Kaduna vs $1,802 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Kaduna is about 53% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Kaduna and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Kaduna 70% lower, Chiang Mai 37% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kaduna
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.18 ₦2,941
$1.95 ฿62.6
11.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.08 ₦47.3K
$18.43 ฿591
90.34%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.52 ₦4,741
$7.50 ฿241
-53.07%
Cappuccino
-
$1.93 ฿62.0
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ₦451
$0.78 ฿24.98
-57.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.16 ₦215
$0.32 ฿10.38
-50.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.82 ₦1,103
$2.15 ฿68.9
-61.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44 ₦1,942
$3.71 ฿119
-61.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kaduna
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.15 ₦2,902
$1.71 ฿55.0
25.73%
White Bread (500g)
$0.93 ₦1,251
$1.56 ฿50.1
-40.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.06 ₦2,784
$1.18 ฿37.91
74.58%
Eggs
$3.35 ₦4,523
$1.98 ฿63.6
69.19%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$2.31 ₦3,121
$16.04 ฿515
-85.60%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
-
$3.17 ฿102
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.71 ₦7,701
$10.94 ฿351
-47.81%
Apples (1kg)
$6.46 ₦8,708
$2.63 ฿84.3
145.63%
Banana (1kg)
$3.41 ₦4,604
$1.17 ฿37.45
191.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.13 ₦1,526
$1.65 ฿52.8
-31.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.91 ₦2,581
$1.54 ฿49.31
24.03%
Potato (1kg)
$2.27 ₦3,061
$1.38 ฿44.16
64.49%
Onion (1kg)
$2.32 ₦3,126
$1.17 ฿37.39
98.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.36 ₦489
$0.66 ฿21.16
-45.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.37 ₦502
$0.51 ฿16.48
-27.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.52 ฿145
-
Wine (Bottle)
$1.76 ₦2,368
$18.32 ฿588
-90.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.80 ฿57.7
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.18 ฿102
-
🚌 Getting Around
Kaduna
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.90 ฿28.85
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$19.00 ฿610
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$1.41 ฿45.32
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.31 ฿41.98
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$8.09 ฿260
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
-
$1.28 ฿40.92
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$21.3K ฿683.3K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$21.7K ฿696.5K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kaduna
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$14.23 ₦19.2K
$69.2 ฿2,221
-79.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.28 ₦9,815
$13.97 ฿448
-47.89%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.43 ₦45.1K
$17.95 ฿576
86.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kaduna
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$42.31 ฿1,358
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.66 ฿214
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$5.92 ฿190
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kaduna
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$299 ฿9,601
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$14.8K ฿476.5K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kaduna
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$11.15 ₦15.0K
$56.2 ฿1,803
-80.16%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.39 ₦28.8K
$26.94 ฿864
-20.60%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$21.40 ₦28.9K
$84.9 ฿2,724
-74.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$21.46 ₦28.9K
$71.8 ฿2,305
-70.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kaduna
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$172 ₦231.6K
$435 ฿14.0K
-60.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$106 ₦142.7K
$240 ฿7,696
-55.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$502 ₦677.3K
$798 ฿25.6K
-37.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$276 ₦372.4K
$498 ฿16.0K
-44.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,995 ฿64.0K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,532 ฿49.2K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kaduna
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$628 ฿20.2K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
5
-

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

Last update for Kaduna: April 21, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $172 in Kaduna versus $435 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $35 in Kaduna versus $18 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $164 in Kaduna vs $244 in Chiang Mai – so Kaduna 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
Kaduna vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kaduna or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 114% more than Kaduna, 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 Kaduna vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $593 per month in Kaduna and $1,267 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Kaduna or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kaduna, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Kaduna compared to Chiang Mai?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $396 in Kaduna and $845 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Are groceries more expensive in Kaduna or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 48% 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 $800/month in Kaduna or Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $396 in Kaduna and $845 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Kaduna or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kaduna costs $396 versus $845 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Kaduna 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 Kaduna or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Kaduna. 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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