🙂A single person spends $630 per month in Manouba vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $965 per month in Manouba vs $1,360 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,301 per month in Manouba vs $1,867 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Manouba is about 26% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Manouba and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Manouba53% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Manouba
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.46TND 10.16
$2.04฿68.2
69.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.39TND 59.9
$18.71฿625
8.98%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.16TND 15.13
$7.86฿262
-34.35%
Cappuccino
$1.07TND 3.15
$2.03฿67.7
-47.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60TND 1.76
$0.80฿26.66
-25.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23TND 0.67
$0.35฿11.69
-34.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.54TND 4.51
$2.14฿71.6
-28.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35TND 6.89
$3.67฿122
-35.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Manouba
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.49TND 1.44
$1.73฿57.7
-71.68%
White Bread(500g)
$0.16TND 0.46
$1.57฿52.5
-89.81%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.51TND 4.42
$1.20฿40.03
25.83%
Eggs
$1.48TND 4.34
$1.97฿65.9
-24.87%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.41TND 30.53
$16.23฿542
-35.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.84TND 17.15
$3.06฿102
90.85%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.27TND 38.94
$10.80฿361
22.87%
Apples(1kg)
$2.04TND 5.98
$2.77฿92.4
-26.35%
Banana(1kg)
$3.00TND 8.79
$1.17฿38.98
156.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.01TND 2.96
$1.71฿57.0
-40.94%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.68TND 1.99
$1.59฿53.2
-57.23%
Potato(1kg)
$0.69TND 2.04
$1.39฿46.55
-50.36%
Onion(1kg)
$0.60TND 1.75
$1.16฿38.60
-48.28%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.47TND 1.37
$0.66฿22.07
-28.79%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.29TND 0.84
$0.52฿17.32
-44.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.46TND 10.14
$4.65฿155
-25.59%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.19TND 15.24
$17.78฿594
-70.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15TND 3.36
$1.79฿59.7
-35.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.07TND 3.14
$3.34฿112
-67.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Manouba
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36TND 1.05
$0.91฿30.30
-60.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.19TND 29.90
$18.64฿623
-45.33%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.32TND 0.95
$1.41฿47.08
-77.30%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.33TND 0.98
$1.34฿44.74
-75.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.36TND 9.85
$8.11฿271
-58.57%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.83TND 2.43
$1.23฿41.19
-32.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.6KTND 104.4K
$21.4K฿715.7K
65.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5KTND 101.2K
$21.8K฿728.7K
58.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Manouba
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$45.81TND 134
$71.3฿2,382
-35.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.76TND 28.63
$14.01฿468
-30.34%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.43TND 62.9
$17.93฿599
19.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Manouba
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.65TND 69.4
$40.82฿1,363
-42.06%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.67TND 37.19
$6.88฿230
84.16%
Cinema Ticket
$5.32TND 15.62
$5.72฿191
-6.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Manouba
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$108TND 316
$308฿10.3K
-65.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,474TND 7,260
$14.7K฿490.1K
-83.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Manouba
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.12TND 132
$55.8฿1,862
-19.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.94TND 129
$26.04฿869
68.74%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.9TND 278
$84.8฿2,832
11.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$63.8TND 187
$71.0฿2,370
-10.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Manouba
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$200TND 587
$423฿14.1K
-52.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$152TND 446
$242฿8,095
-37.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$271TND 796
$797฿26.6K
-65.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$204TND 599
$507฿16.9K
-59.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,071TND 3,143
$1,918฿64.1K
-44.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$650TND 1,907
$1,464฿48.9K
-55.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Manouba
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$595฿19.9K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.96
5
119.20%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Manouba: July 27, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $200 in Manouba versus $423 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Manouba versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $181 in Manouba vs $244 in Chiang Mai – so Manouba 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
Manouba vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Manouba or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 35% more than Manouba, 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 Manouba and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $945 per month in Manouba and $1,279 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Manouba or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Manouba, 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 Manouba and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $108 per month in Manouba and $308 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 Manouba or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 35% 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 $1,200/month in Manouba or in Chiang Mai?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $630 in Manouba and $852 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Manouba or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Manouba costs $630 versus $852 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Manouba 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 Manouba or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Manouba. 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.