Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Monastir and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Monastir: $706 a month against $936 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $2,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Monastir, Tunisia
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Monastir
🇹🇳 Tunisia
$706
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$936
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Monastir 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 Monastir and in Chiang Mai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $706 per month in Monastir vs $936 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Monastir $706
  • Chiang Mai $936

A couple spends around $1,131 per month in Monastir vs $1,457 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Monastir $1,131
  • Chiang Mai $1,457

A family of three spends $1,555 per month in Monastir vs $1,979 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Monastir $1,555
  • Chiang Mai $1,979

Monastir is about 25% cheaper than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Monastir and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Monastir 48% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Monastir
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.01 TND 15.04
$2.24 ฿75.6
123.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.48 TND 67.6
$19.00 ฿641
18.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.15 TND 18.46
$5.55 ฿187
10.81%
Cappuccino
$1.19 TND 3.58
$1.67 ฿56.5
-28.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 TND 2.23
$0.64 ฿21.54
15.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 TND 1.09
$0.31 ฿10.31
16.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.63 TND 4.91
$2.36 ฿79.5
-30.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63 TND 4.90
$3.66 ฿124
-55.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Monastir
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.44 TND 1.31
$1.95 ฿65.7
-77.44%
White Bread (500g)
$0.17 TND 0.51
$1.44 ฿48.46
-88.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.68 TND 5.04
$1.33 ฿45.03
26.32%
Eggs
$1.58 TND 4.73
$2.28 ฿77.1
-30.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.71 TND 41.18
$16.45 ฿555
-16.66%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.15 TND 18.47
$2.78 ฿93.9
121.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.60 TND 43.85
$9.31 ฿314
56.82%
Apples (1kg)
$2.01 TND 6.05
$2.35 ฿79.4
-14.47%
Banana (1kg)
$4.40 TND 13.21
$0.97 ฿32.79
353.61%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.20 TND 3.59
$1.60 ฿53.9
-25.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.80 TND 2.39
$1.50 ฿50.6
-46.67%
Potato (1kg)
$0.87 TND 2.62
$1.28 ฿43.11
-32.03%
Onion (1kg)
$0.72 TND 2.17
$1.10 ฿37.18
-34.55%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.44 TND 1.33
$0.71 ฿23.82
-38.03%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.33 TND 1.00
$0.49 ฿16.36
-32.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.74 TND 11.24
$4.14 ฿140
-9.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.70 TND 17.14
$17.52 ฿591
-67.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.21 TND 3.64
$1.61 ฿54.5
-24.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32 TND 3.96
$2.78 ฿93.9
-52.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Monastir
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.32 TND 0.95
$0.87 ฿29.30
-63.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.01 TND 33.08
$54.1 ฿1,825
-79.65%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.29 TND 0.87
$1.16 ฿39.04
-75.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.29 TND 0.86
$0.53 ฿17.80
-45.28%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.77 TND 5.32
$2.42 ฿81.7
-26.86%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 TND 2.48
$1.45 ฿48.88
-42.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.7K TND 119.3K
$21.1K ฿710.5K
88.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.9K TND 108.0K
$26.9K ฿909.0K
33.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Monastir
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$61.5 TND 185
$62.2 ฿2,098
-1.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.56 TND 31.74
$12.17 ฿411
-13.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.06 TND 60.3
$20.12 ฿679
-0.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Monastir
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.67 TND 71.1
$37.31 ฿1,259
-36.56%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.63 TND 19.92
$3.77 ฿127
75.86%
Cinema Ticket
$6.03 TND 18.12
$6.49 ฿219
-7.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Monastir
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$94.4 TND 284
$736 ฿24.8K
-87.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,205 TND 9,630
$14.8K ฿498.2K
-78.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Monastir
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.92 TND 141
$53.4 ฿1,801
-12.09%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$67.5 TND 203
$24.64 ฿831
173.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$111 TND 334
$91.5 ฿3,087
21.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.2 TND 292
$71.9 ฿2,427
35.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Monastir
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$203 TND 609
$482 ฿16.3K
-57.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$121 TND 362
$309 ฿10.4K
-60.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$354 TND 1,064
$1,006 ฿33.9K
-64.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$233 TND 701
$633 ฿21.4K
-63.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,219 TND 3,661
$2,363 ฿79.7K
-48.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$619 TND 1,859
$1,589 ฿53.6K
-61.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Monastir
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$347 TND 1,041
$590 ฿19.9K
-41.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11
5.57
97.49%

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

Last update for Monastir: October 25, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Monastir
$210
Chiang Mai
$234 11.7% $25
Clothing & Footwear
Monastir
$145
Chiang Mai
$109 25.2% $37
Accommodation & Living
Monastir
$121
Chiang Mai
$309 156% $188
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Monastir
$92
Chiang Mai
$94 2.5% $2.3
Eating Out
Monastir
$89
Chiang Mai
$78 12.5% $11
Sport & Entertainment
Monastir
$36
Chiang Mai
$50 40.7% $15
Getting Around
Monastir
$14
Chiang Mai
$61 339% $47

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $203 in Monastir versus $482 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 70% higher in Chiang Mai. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $22 in Monastir versus $19 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $210 in Monastir vs $234 in Chiang Mai – so Monastir wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇹🇳 Monastir
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
20:43 8:43 PM
02:43 2:43 AM
6 h ahead of Monastir
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
104,535
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 November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 3 TND (1 TND = 0.333 USD). 1 EUR = 3.35 TND (1 TND = 0.298 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 33.74 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.67 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Monastir Chiang Mai 8,640 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Monastir
  • 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
Monastir vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Monastir or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 32% more than Monastir, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from transport. 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 Monastir and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,059 per month in Monastir and $1,403 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Monastir or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Monastir, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $203 there versus $482 in Chiang Mai.
How do childcare costs compare in Monastir and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $94 per month in Monastir and $736 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 Monastir or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 12% more in Chiang Mai, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Monastir – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How safe is Monastir compared to Chiang Mai?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
Should I move to Monastir or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Monastir. If higher salaries 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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