🙂A single person spends $567 per month in Mahdia vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $865 per month in Mahdia vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,163 per month in Mahdia vs $1,855 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Mahdia is about 35% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Mahdia and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Mahdia58% lower, Chiang Mai35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mahdia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.57TND 7.51
$1.98฿64.3
29.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.61TND 60.1
$18.80฿612
9.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.46TND 10.09
$7.75฿252
-55.35%
Cappuccino
$0.71TND 2.07
$1.92฿62.5
-63.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62TND 1.81
$0.79฿25.79
-21.52%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.20TND 0.57
$0.36฿11.62
-44.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.03TND 3.02
$2.21฿72.1
-53.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54TND 4.50
$3.66฿119
-57.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mahdia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.40TND 1.17
$1.65฿53.8
-75.76%
White Bread(500g)
$0.18TND 0.51
$1.63฿53.2
-88.96%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56TND 4.54
$1.19฿38.86
31.09%
Eggs
$1.57TND 4.57
$2.00฿65.1
-21.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.22TND 32.74
$15.98฿520
-29.79%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.54TND 16.16
$3.03฿98.5
82.84%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.27TND 38.71
$10.86฿354
22.19%
Apples(1kg)
$2.22TND 6.47
$2.76฿90.0
-19.57%
Banana(1kg)
$2.90TND 8.47
$1.18฿38.42
145.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.00TND 2.92
$1.64฿53.5
-39.02%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.68TND 1.97
$1.52฿49.51
-55.26%
Potato(1kg)
$0.69TND 2.02
$1.38฿45.10
-50.00%
Onion(1kg)
$0.32TND 0.94
$1.19฿38.84
-73.11%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.33TND 0.96
$0.70฿22.86
-52.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.31TND 0.90
$0.56฿18.13
-44.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.60TND 10.51
$4.58฿149
-21.40%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.42TND 9.97
$16.56฿539
-79.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.10TND 3.20
$1.83฿59.5
-39.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11TND 3.23
$3.20฿104
-65.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Mahdia
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.35TND 1.02
$0.88฿28.56
-60.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.12TND 29.52
$18.72฿610
-45.94%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.30TND 0.87
$1.36฿44.16
-77.94%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.24TND 0.70
$1.34฿43.65
-82.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.37TND 21.51
$7.84฿256
-5.99%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.81TND 2.37
$1.23฿39.92
-34.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.7KTND 104.1K
$21.6K฿704.3K
64.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.2KTND 102.6K
$22.5K฿734.3K
55.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mahdia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$46.09TND 134
$70.5฿2,298
-34.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.47TND 27.62
$13.68฿445
-30.77%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.63TND 42.68
$17.45฿568
-16.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mahdia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$20.51TND 59.9
$41.33฿1,346
-50.38%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.76TND 22.63
$6.96฿227
11.49%
Cinema Ticket
$4.59TND 13.40
$5.77฿188
-20.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mahdia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$109TND 318
$307฿10.0K
-64.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,009TND 2,945
$14.6K฿475.9K
-93.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mahdia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.07TND 131
$55.8฿1,817
-19.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.45TND 97.6
$26.21฿854
27.62%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101TND 296
$85.8฿2,793
18.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$23.69TND 69.1
$72.2฿2,353
-67.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mahdia
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$146TND 425
$430฿14.0K
-66.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$137TND 399
$239฿7,774
-42.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$288TND 841
$817฿26.6K
-64.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$161TND 469
$511฿16.6K
-68.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,028TND 3,000
$1,983฿64.6K
-48.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$639TND 1,864
$1,484฿48.3K
-56.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mahdia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$241TND 702
$619฿20.2K
-61.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.6
5
172.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mahdia: June 9, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $146 in Mahdia versus $430 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 $21.00 in Mahdia versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $178 in Mahdia vs $241 in Chiang Mai – so Mahdia 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
Mahdia vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mahdia or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 53% more than Mahdia, 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 Mahdia vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $851 per month in Mahdia and $1,303 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 Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $109 per month in Mahdia and $307 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 Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 36% 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 $1,000/month in Mahdia or Chiang Mai?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $567 in Mahdia and $869 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Mahdia or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mahdia costs $567 versus $869 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 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.