Cost of Living Comparison Between Onitsha and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Onitsha and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $0.79 per month in Onitsha vs $932 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1.00 per month in Onitsha vs $1,399 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1.95 per month in Onitsha vs $1,866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Onitsha is about 100% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Onitsha and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Onitsha 100% lower, Chiang Mai 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.3

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿653

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.1

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 ฿25.58

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.49

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.2

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.57

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.2

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿539

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.4

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.2

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.28

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.61

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.54

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.21

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.88

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.51

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿609

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.3

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.6

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 ₦271

$0.88 ฿29.24

-77.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,790

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.04

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.25

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.4

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.28

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.0K ฿699.5K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.4K ฿879.7K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$63.7 ฿2,119

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$12.89 ฿429

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿683

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,299

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$784 ฿26.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿488.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,835

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿824

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,133

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,462

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,594

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Onitsha: September 15, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

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

Onitsha vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 117910% more than Onitsha, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1.19 per month in Onitsha and $1,398 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Onitsha, where all-in costs run around $0.79, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Onitsha it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Onitsha costs $0.79 versus $932 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Onitsha. 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.