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

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $106 per month in Kano vs $950 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $186 per month in Kano vs $1,430 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $266 per month in Kano vs $1,909 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Kano is about 89% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Kano and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Kano 92% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.72 ₦2,281

$2.10 ฿69.3

-18.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.75 ₦19.5K

$19.84 ฿656

-25.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.17 ₦8,174

$5.79 ฿191

6.56%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

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

$0.20 ₦267

$0.78 ฿25.61

-74.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.15 ₦205

$0.31 ฿10.37

-51.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.31 ₦411

$2.34 ฿77.2

-86.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ₦416

$3.70 ฿122

-91.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

White Bread (500g)

$0.65 ₦861

$1.60 ฿52.7

-59.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.54 ₦716

$1.42 ฿46.75

-61.97%

Eggs

$0.87 ₦1,148

$2.18 ฿71.9

-60.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 ₦774

$0.50 ฿16.48

16.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ₦416

$2.90 ฿95.7

-89.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 ₦387

$0.94 ฿31.13

-69.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.38 ₦16.4K

$55.3 ฿1,827

-77.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.52 ₦687

$1.44 ฿47.55

-63.89%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

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

$7.39 ₦9,798

$64.9 ฿2,145

-88.62%

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

$13.35 ฿441

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$6.41 ₦8,498

$20.83 ฿688

-69.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.66 ₦27.4K

$40.42 ฿1,336

-48.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

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

$787 ฿26.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

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 Kano: September 6, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $15.00 in Kano versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $20.00 vs $242 – making Kano 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

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

Chiang Mai costs about 801% more than Kano, 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 $158 per month in Kano and $1,426 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Public transport costs about 347% less in Kano. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 1126% 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 Kano, where all-in costs run around $106, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Kano 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. Kano costs $106 versus $950 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 Kano. 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.