🙂A single person spends $853 per month in Koforidua vs $926 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,363 per month in Koforidua vs $1,381 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Koforidua vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Koforidua is about 8% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Koforidua and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Koforidua37% lower, Chiang Mai31% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Koforidua
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.08GHS 94.7
$2.10฿70.6
284.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.4GHS 603
$19.22฿645
167.53%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.31GHS 121
$5.47฿184
88.48%
Cappuccino
$4.46GHS 52.2
$1.69฿56.6
163.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60GHS 18.72
$0.65฿21.71
146.15%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44GHS 5.21
$0.31฿10.32
41.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.84GHS 21.56
$2.32฿77.8
-20.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29GHS 26.87
$3.91฿131
-41.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Koforidua
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$3.59GHS 42.04
$2.07฿69.3
73.43%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75GHS 20.56
$1.53฿51.4
14.38%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.07GHS 35.99
$1.25฿41.93
145.60%
Eggs
$2.72GHS 31.84
$2.19฿73.6
24.20%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.99GHS 140
$15.94฿535
-24.78%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.07GHS 82.9
$2.76฿92.7
156.16%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.84GHS 115
$9.74฿327
1.03%
Apples(1kg)
$3.73GHS 43.73
$2.66฿89.1
40.23%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46GHS 17.09
$1.05฿35.32
39.05%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.86GHS 21.80
$1.66฿55.6
12.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.64GHS 42.64
$1.48฿49.49
145.95%
Potato(1kg)
$2.63GHS 30.82
$1.21฿40.73
117.36%
Onion(1kg)
$2.80GHS 32.77
$1.10฿36.95
154.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.75GHS 8.74
$0.76฿25.50
-1.32%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.62GHS 7.22
$0.50฿16.66
24.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.53GHS 29.66
$4.38฿147
-42.24%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.02GHS 82.2
$17.50฿587
-59.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.28GHS 14.97
$1.66฿55.7
-22.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32GHS 27.23
$2.78฿93.2
-16.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Koforidua
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.82GHS 9.63
$0.86฿28.88
-4.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$53.7฿1,803
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.71GHS 20.01
$1.22฿40.87
40.16%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.27GHS 14.83
$0.56฿18.80
126.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.35GHS 51.0
$2.34฿78.6
85.90%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31GHS 15.29
$1.45฿48.57
-9.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$7,875GHS 92.3K
$21.1K฿706.4K
-62.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$9,996GHS 117.2K
$26.3K฿882.3K
-61.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Koforidua
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$74.4GHS 872
$63.6฿2,133
17.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.60GHS 230
$12.56฿422
56.05%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.26GHS 495
$20.04฿672
110.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Koforidua
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$38.73฿1,299
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.80฿127
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.76GHS 150
$6.47฿217
97.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Koforidua
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$458GHS 5,369
$777฿26.1K
-41.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.7KGHS 218.7K
$14.6K฿489.1K
28.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Koforidua
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$14.63GHS 171
$55.2฿1,853
-73.51%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.31GHS 215
$24.77฿831
-26.08%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$35.84GHS 420
$90.3฿3,029
-60.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$52.4GHS 614
$73.5฿2,467
-28.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Koforidua
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$339GHS 3,975
$466฿15.6K
-27.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$171GHS 2,003
$286฿9,601
-40.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$514GHS 6,024
$866฿29.0K
-40.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$261GHS 3,058
$525฿17.6K
-50.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,978฿66.4K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,461฿49.0K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Koforidua
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$337GHS 3,952
$581฿19.5K
-41.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
26.75
5.57
380.25%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Koforidua: September 28, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $339 in Koforidua versus $466 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 72% 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 $51.0 in Koforidua versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $279 vs $238 – 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
Koforidua vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Koforidua or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 9% more than Koforidua, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. 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 Koforidua and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,279 per month in Koforidua and $1,388 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Koforidua or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Koforidua, 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 Koforidua and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $51.0 in Koforidua and $19.00 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 Koforidua or in Chiang Mai?
Interestingly, groceries are about 17% cheaper in Chiang Mai – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Koforidua or in Chiang Mai?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Koforidua, where all-in costs run around $853, than in Chiang Mai at $926. In Koforidua 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, Koforidua or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Koforidua costs $853 versus $926 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Koforidua 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 Koforidua or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Koforidua. 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.