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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $640 per month in Owerri vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,042 per month in Owerri vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,444 per month in Owerri vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Owerri is about 25% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Owerri and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Owerri 52% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.71 ₦3,698

$1.96 ฿63.6

38.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.98 ₦21.8K

$18.81 ฿611

-15.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿258

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.2

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

$0.26 ₦355

$0.84 ฿27.25

-69.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.44

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿71.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.05 ₦1,432

$3.80 ฿124

-72.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.2

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿52.8

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.40

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.4

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿517

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.0

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿350

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.0

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.65

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.4

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.2

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿42.89

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.01

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.85

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.21

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿147

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿592

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿105

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿28.83

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿630

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿43.95

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿43.79

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿268

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.40

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

$21.2K ฿687.8K

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

$22.5K ฿731.0K

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

$70.2 ฿2,281

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

$13.77 ฿448

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿572

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,352

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿215

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿188

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

$306 ฿9,953

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿482.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,768

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿850

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,748

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,257

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$607 ₦829.3K

$238 ฿7,743

154.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,381 ₦3.3M

$825 ฿26.8K

188.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,329 ₦1.8M

$515 ฿16.7K

158.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿66.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Owerri: April 25, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $16.00 in Owerri versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Use this as a proxy for overall food spending across the two cities.

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

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

Chiang Mai costs about 33% more than Owerri, 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 $960 per month in Owerri and $1,278 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $640 in Owerri and $852 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $16.00 in Owerri and $19.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $640 in Owerri and $852 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Owerri costs $640 versus $852 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 Owerri. 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.