🙂A single person spends $501 per month in Khartoum vs $950 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $677 per month in Khartoum vs $1,430 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $853 per month in Khartoum vs $1,909 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Khartoum is about 47% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Khartoum and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Khartoum64% lower, Chiang Mai31% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Khartoum
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.40SDG 1,438
$2.10฿69.3
14.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.88SDG 8,309
$19.84฿656
-30.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$2.78SDG 1,662
$5.79฿191
-51.99%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.43SDG 1,455
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09SDG 1,250
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.82SDG 1,686
$1.83฿60.4
54.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50SDG 299
$0.78฿25.61
-35.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39SDG 231
$0.31฿10.37
25.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.34฿77.2
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.70฿122
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Khartoum
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.39SDG 829
$2.03฿67.1
-31.53%
White Bread(500g)
$1.43SDG 856
$1.60฿52.7
-10.63%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.39SDG 830
$1.42฿46.75
-2.11%
Eggs
$3.64SDG 2,181
$2.18฿71.9
66.97%
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$15.91฿526
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.47SDG 2,677
$3.07฿102
45.60%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$9.87฿326
-
Apples(1kg)
$4.26SDG 2,549
$2.63฿86.8
61.98%
Banana(1kg)
$1.03SDG 616
$1.10฿36.19
-6.36%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.54SDG 921
$1.63฿53.8
-5.52%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.61SDG 964
$1.53฿50.6
5.23%
Potato(1kg)
$1.01SDG 605
$1.24฿41.13
-18.55%
Onion(1kg)
$0.81SDG 485
$1.13฿37.37
-28.32%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.58SDG 346
$0.74฿24.38
-21.62%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53SDG 316
$0.50฿16.48
6.00%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$3.89SDG 2,330
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.81SDG 487
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67SDG 1,001
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.76SDG 1,056
$4.28฿141
-58.88%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$17.97฿594
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.70฿56.1
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.90฿95.7
-
🚌 Getting Around
Khartoum
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.69SDG 412
$0.94฿31.13
-26.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$55.3฿1,827
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.63SDG 2,174
$1.23฿40.76
195.12%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$0.53฿17.66
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.05SDG 3,021
$2.40฿79.3
110.42%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.33SDG 796
$1.44฿47.55
-7.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$4,911SDG 2.9M
$21.2K฿700.2K
-76.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$10.2KSDG 6.1M
$27.3K฿902.1K
-62.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Khartoum
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$71.9SDG 43.0K
$64.9฿2,145
10.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.41SDG 5,631
$13.35฿441
-29.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.28SDG 17.5K
$20.83฿688
40.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Khartoum
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$8.07SDG 4,828
$40.42฿1,336
-80.03%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.95฿131
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.03SDG 2,410
$6.71฿222
-39.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Khartoum
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$110SDG 66.0K
$787฿26.0K
-85.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,717SDG 1.6M
$15.1K฿499.6K
-82.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Khartoum
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$56.2฿1,858
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$8.57SDG 5,131
$24.95฿824
-65.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$92.7฿3,063
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$75.1฿2,482
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Khartoum
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$602SDG 360.6K
$484฿16.0K
24.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$170SDG 101.8K
$287฿9,491
-40.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,291SDG 772.4K
$910฿30.1K
41.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$161SDG 96.6K
$531฿17.5K
-69.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,060SDG 634.4K
$1,980฿65.4K
-46.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$985SDG 589.5K
$1,451฿47.9K
-32.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Khartoum
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$235SDG 140.7K
$605฿20.0K
-61.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
30
5.57
438.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Khartoum: September 5, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $602 in Khartoum versus $484 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 158% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Khartoum versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $126 vs $242 – making Khartoum 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
Khartoum vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Khartoum or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 90% more than Khartoum, 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 Khartoum and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $751 per month in Khartoum and $1,426 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Khartoum or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Khartoum, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Khartoum and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Khartoum 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 Khartoum or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 93% 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 Khartoum or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Khartoum, where all-in costs run around $501, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Khartoum 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, Khartoum or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Khartoum costs $501 versus $950 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Khartoum 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 Khartoum or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Khartoum. 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.