Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mahdia and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Mahdia: $557 a month against $938 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $4,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Mahdia
🇹🇳 Tunisia
$557
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$938
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Mahdia and in Chiang Mai

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Mahdia and in Chiang Mai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $557 per month in Mahdia vs $938 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Mahdia $557
  • Chiang Mai $938

A couple spends around $881 per month in Mahdia vs $1,426 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Mahdia $881
  • Chiang Mai $1,426

A family of three spends $1,206 per month in Mahdia vs $1,914 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Mahdia $1,206
  • Chiang Mai $1,914

Mahdia is about 41% cheaper than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Mahdia and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Mahdia 59% lower, Chiang Mai 30% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mahdia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.48 TND 7.44
$2.26 ฿75.4
9.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.01 TND 59.9
$19.18 ฿641
4.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.84 TND 14.49
$5.59 ฿187
-13.42%
Cappuccino
$0.96 TND 2.89
$1.72 ฿57.6
-44.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57 TND 1.72
$0.64 ฿21.54
-10.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.19 TND 0.56
$0.33 ฿11.18
-42.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.03 TND 3.07
$2.36 ฿78.7
-56.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 TND 4.52
$3.90 ฿130
-61.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mahdia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.43 TND 1.30
$2.05 ฿68.6
-79.02%
White Bread (500g)
$0.26 TND 0.78
$1.40 ฿46.70
-81.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 TND 4.13
$1.28 ฿42.89
7.81%
Eggs
$1.53 TND 4.58
$2.25 ฿75.3
-32.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.75 TND 35.19
$16.94 ฿566
-30.64%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.96 TND 14.87
$2.74 ฿91.6
81.02%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.46 TND 43.29
$9.36 ฿313
54.49%
Apples (1kg)
$2.86 TND 8.56
$2.40 ฿80.3
19.17%
Banana (1kg)
$2.86 TND 8.55
$1.01 ฿33.92
183.17%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.44 TND 4.32
$1.61 ฿53.9
-10.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.72 TND 2.15
$1.52 ฿50.7
-52.63%
Potato (1kg)
$0.65 TND 1.94
$1.28 ฿42.90
-49.22%
Onion (1kg)
$0.34 TND 1.03
$1.11 ฿37.22
-69.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.43 TND 1.29
$0.72 ฿24.09
-40.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.31 TND 0.94
$0.52 ฿17.54
-40.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.53 TND 10.56
$4.33 ฿145
-18.48%
Wine (Bottle)
$3.35 TND 10.04
$17.73 ฿593
-81.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 TND 4.88
$1.63 ฿54.4
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.25 TND 3.75
$2.85 ฿95.3
-56.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Mahdia
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.32 TND 0.95
$0.85 ฿28.31
-62.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$13.33 TND 39.92
$53.9 ฿1,801
-75.27%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.31 TND 0.93
$1.17 ฿39.18
-73.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.26 TND 0.77
$0.57 ฿19.00
-54.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$2.37 ฿79.2
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.88 TND 2.64
$1.45 ฿48.32
-39.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.9K TND 122.5K
$20.5K ฿684.3K
99.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.1K TND 120.0K
$26.5K ฿886.1K
51.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mahdia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$56.3 TND 169
$62.3 ฿2,083
-9.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.15 TND 21.41
$12.27 ฿410
-41.73%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.10 TND 60.2
$19.97 ฿668
0.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mahdia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$20.52 TND 61.5
$37.91 ฿1,267
-45.87%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.69 TND 23.03
$3.76 ฿126
104.52%
Cinema Ticket
$6.80 TND 20.36
$6.71 ฿224
1.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mahdia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$109 TND 326
$797 ฿26.6K
-86.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$985 TND 2,951
$14.8K ฿495.7K
-93.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mahdia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.98 TND 114
$53.3 ฿1,780
-28.68%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.80 TND 98.2
$25.05 ฿837
30.94%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.9 TND 230
$91.6 ฿3,062
-16.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$23.51 TND 70.4
$73.5 ฿2,455
-68.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mahdia
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$130 TND 390
$464 ฿15.5K
-71.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$100 TND 301
$305 ฿10.2K
-67.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$292 TND 875
$915 ฿30.6K
-68.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$175 TND 523
$552 ฿18.5K
-68.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$675 TND 2,022
$1,912 ฿63.9K
-64.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$201 TND 602
$1,438 ฿48.1K
-86.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mahdia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$232 TND 695
$595 ฿19.9K
-61.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.33
5.57
85.46%

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

Last update for Mahdia: October 10, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Mahdia
$188
Chiang Mai
$238 26.4% $50
Accommodation & Living
Mahdia
$100
Chiang Mai
$305 204% $204
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mahdia
$84
Chiang Mai
$95 13.2% $11
Clothing & Footwear
Mahdia
$77
Chiang Mai
$110 42.2% $33
Eating Out
Mahdia
$57
Chiang Mai
$79 38.2% $22
Sport & Entertainment
Mahdia
$34
Chiang Mai
$51 50.5% $17
Getting Around
Mahdia
$16
Chiang Mai
$61 279% $45

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $130 in Mahdia versus $464 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 157% 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 $20.00 in Mahdia versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $188 in Mahdia vs $238 in Chiang Mai – so Mahdia wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇹🇳 Mahdia
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
23:10 11:10 PM
05:10 5:10 AM
6 h ahead of Mahdia
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,545
127,240
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to TND – Tunisian Dinar Converter

Tunisian Dinar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 2.99 TND (1 TND = 0.334 USD). 1 EUR = 3.37 TND (1 TND = 0.297 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Mahdia Chiang Mai 8,630 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Mahdia
  • Chiang Mai

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Mahdia vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mahdia or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 69% more than Mahdia, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. 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 Mahdia and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $835 per month in Mahdia and $1,408 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Mahdia or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Mahdia, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Mahdia and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $109 per month in Mahdia and $797 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Mahdia or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 26% 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 Mahdia or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Mahdia, where all-in costs run around $557, than in Chiang Mai at $938. In Mahdia 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, Mahdia or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mahdia costs $557 versus $938 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Mahdia 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 Mahdia or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Mahdia. 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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