🙂A single person spends $669 per month in Manouba vs $932 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,059 per month in Manouba vs $1,399 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,450 per month in Manouba vs $1,866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Manouba is about 28% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Manouba and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Manouba51% lower, Chiang Mai32% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Manouba
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.40TND 9.85
$2.08฿69.5
63.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.51TND 59.5
$19.61฿655
4.59%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.23TND 18.06
$5.67฿189
9.88%
Cappuccino
$1.11TND 3.23
$1.81฿60.3
-38.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66TND 1.91
$0.77฿25.65
-14.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26TND 0.74
$0.35฿11.53
-25.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.68TND 4.86
$2.21฿73.9
-23.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38TND 6.92
$3.79฿127
-37.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Manouba
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.51TND 1.49
$2.05฿68.4
-75.12%
White Bread(500g)
$0.25TND 0.73
$1.51฿50.6
-83.44%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.35TND 3.93
$1.40฿46.69
-3.57%
Eggs
$1.61TND 4.68
$2.26฿75.4
-28.76%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.39TND 30.15
$16.19฿540
-35.82%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.69TND 16.52
$2.90฿96.7
96.21%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.43TND 41.85
$9.42฿314
53.18%
Apples(1kg)
$1.87TND 5.42
$2.68฿89.4
-30.22%
Banana(1kg)
$3.26TND 9.47
$1.09฿36.37
199.08%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.11TND 3.21
$1.62฿54.0
-31.48%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.72TND 2.09
$1.46฿48.74
-50.68%
Potato(1kg)
$0.84TND 2.44
$1.28฿42.65
-34.38%
Onion(1kg)
$0.66TND 1.90
$1.06฿35.31
-37.74%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.53TND 1.54
$0.72฿23.94
-26.39%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.31TND 0.90
$0.53฿17.56
-41.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.67TND 10.66
$4.23฿141
-13.24%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.80TND 19.73
$18.29฿611
-62.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.21TND 3.51
$1.63฿54.4
-25.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.07TND 3.11
$2.90฿96.8
-63.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Manouba
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36TND 1.03
$0.88฿29.32
-59.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.47TND 30.37
$53.8฿1,795
-80.53%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.30TND 0.87
$1.17฿39.14
-74.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.34TND 0.99
$0.58฿19.30
-41.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.82TND 5.29
$2.39฿79.6
-23.85%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.84TND 2.44
$1.45฿48.41
-42.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.4KTND 108.4K
$21.0K฿701.4K
77.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.5KTND 102.9K
$26.4K฿882.0K
34.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Manouba
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$46.62TND 135
$63.7฿2,125
-26.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.00TND 26.10
$12.89฿430
-30.18%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.15TND 61.3
$20.52฿685
3.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Manouba
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$27.49TND 79.7
$39.02฿1,302
-29.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.98TND 40.55
$3.92฿131
256.63%
Cinema Ticket
$5.60TND 16.23
$6.58฿220
-14.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Manouba
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$99.3TND 288
$784฿26.2K
-87.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,561TND 7,427
$14.7K฿489.8K
-82.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Manouba
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.03TND 125
$55.1฿1,840
-21.92%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.28TND 105
$24.74฿826
46.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112TND 324
$94.1฿3,142
18.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$68.2TND 198
$74.0฿2,469
-7.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Manouba
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$215TND 625
$490฿16.4K
-56.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$161TND 466
$288฿9,620
-44.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$376TND 1,090
$891฿29.8K
-57.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$281TND 815
$521฿17.4K
-46.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$996TND 2,888
$1,974฿65.9K
-49.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$641TND 1,858
$1,444฿48.2K
-55.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Manouba
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$602฿20.1K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.28
5.57
84.56%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Manouba: September 13, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $215 in Manouba versus $490 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 $21.00 in Manouba versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $191 in Manouba vs $241 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 39% 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 $1,003 per month in Manouba and $1,398 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 $99.3 per month in Manouba and $784 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 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 $2,000/month in Manouba or in Chiang Mai?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Manouba, where all-in costs run around $669, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Manouba 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, Manouba or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Manouba costs $669 versus $932 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.