Cost of Living Comparison Between New Cairo and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between New Cairo and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $691 per month in New Cairo vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,015 per month in New Cairo vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,339 per month in New Cairo vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

New Cairo is about 20% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both New Cairo and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – New Cairo 48% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
New Cairo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.92 E£200
$1.96 ฿65.9
100.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.13 E£1,028
$18.35 ฿617
9.70%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.81 E£245
$7.48 ฿252
-35.70%
Cappuccino
$1.50 E£76.5
$2.02 ฿67.8
-25.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 E£18.47
$0.85 ฿28.52
-57.65%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.15 E£7.64
$0.36 ฿11.97
-58.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.35 E£68.8
$2.14 ฿71.9
-36.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79 E£143
$3.59 ฿121
-22.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
New Cairo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.92 E£47.18
$1.65 ฿55.5
-44.24%
White Bread (500g)
$0.63 E£32.39
$1.57 ฿52.7
-59.87%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.72 E£37.00
$1.19 ฿40.05
-39.50%
Eggs
$1.47 E£74.9
$1.94 ฿65.1
-24.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.97 E£203
$16.19 ฿545
-75.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.51 E£231
$2.99 ฿101
50.84%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.07 E£463
$10.94 ฿368
-17.09%
Apples (1kg)
$1.56 E£79.6
$2.71 ฿91.2
-42.44%
Banana (1kg)
$0.55 E£28.19
$1.17 ฿39.27
-52.99%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.47 E£23.97
$1.69 ฿56.8
-72.19%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.41 E£21.19
$1.60 ฿54.0
-74.38%
Potato (1kg)
$0.50 E£25.64
$1.38 ฿46.56
-63.77%
Onion (1kg)
$0.40 E£20.52
$1.20 ฿40.47
-66.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.22 E£11.23
$0.67 ฿22.51
-67.16%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.22 E£11.19
$0.56 ฿18.74
-60.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.04 E£104
$4.64 ฿156
-56.03%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.18 E£469
$17.62 ฿593
-47.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.30 E£66.6
$1.86 ฿62.6
-30.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86 E£94.9
$3.30 ฿111
-43.64%
🚌 Getting Around
New Cairo
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.18 E£8.99
$0.88 ฿29.70
-79.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$19.34 ฿651
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.41 E£21.03
$1.36 ฿45.92
-69.85%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.31 E£15.98
$1.34 ฿45.00
-76.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.00 E£102
$8.21 ฿276
-75.64%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.33 E£17.06
$1.22 ฿41.20
-72.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K E£1.8M
$21.4K ฿718.5K
65.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.6K E£1.7M
$22.5K ฿758.1K
49.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
New Cairo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$25.21 E£1,287
$70.7 ฿2,378
-64.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.09 E£362
$14.04 ฿472
-49.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.37 E£581
$17.49 ฿589
-34.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
New Cairo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.03 E£1,278
$42.15 ฿1,418
-40.62%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.77 E£346
$6.88 ฿231
-1.60%
Cinema Ticket
$3.62 E£185
$5.92 ฿199
-38.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
New Cairo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$90.8 E£4,638
$309 ฿10.4K
-70.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,950 E£99.6K
$14.9K ฿500.7K
-86.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
New Cairo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$31.42 E£1,604
$55.8 ฿1,876
-43.65%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.25 E£2,515
$26.11 ฿879
88.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$107 E£5,475
$83.0 ฿2,793
29.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$51.3 E£2,622
$70.5 ฿2,371
-27.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
New Cairo
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$348 E£17.8K
$432 ฿14.5K
-19.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$279 E£14.2K
$239 ฿8,040
16.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$505 E£25.8K
$822 ฿27.7K
-38.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$410 E£21.0K
$512 ฿17.2K
-19.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,254 E£64.1K
$1,915 ฿64.4K
-34.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$682 E£34.8K
$1,467 ฿49.4K
-53.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
New Cairo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$194 E£9,898
$579 ฿19.5K
-66.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
16.67
5
233.40%

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

Last update for New Cairo: July 13, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $348 in New Cairo versus $432 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 199% 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 New Cairo versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $136 in New Cairo vs $243 in Chiang Mai – so New Cairo 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
New Cairo vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, New Cairo or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 25% more than New Cairo, 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 New Cairo and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,036 per month in New Cairo and $1,292 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, New Cairo or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in New Cairo, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in New Cairo and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in New Cairo and $18.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in New Cairo or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 80% 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 $800/month in New Cairo or in Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $691 in New Cairo and $861 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, New Cairo or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. New Cairo costs $691 versus $861 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is New Cairo 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 New Cairo or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with New Cairo. 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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