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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $210 per month in Sebha vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $284 per month in Sebha vs $1,360 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $358 per month in Sebha vs $1,867 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Sebha is about 75% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Sebha and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Sebha 84% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sebha
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
-
$2.04 ฿68.2
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$18.71 ฿624
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
-
$7.86 ฿262
-
Cappuccino
-
$2.03 ฿67.7
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.80 ฿26.64
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.35 ฿11.68
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.14 ฿71.5
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.67 ฿122
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sebha
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.87 LYD 5.58
$1.73 ฿57.6
-49.71%
White Bread (500g)
-
$1.57 ฿52.4
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.77 LYD 4.91
$1.20 ฿39.99
-35.83%
Eggs
$1.29 LYD 8.22
$1.97 ฿65.8
-34.52%
Local Cheese (1kg)
-
$16.23 ฿541
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
-
$3.06 ฿102
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.49 LYD 54.1
$10.80 ฿360
-21.39%
Apples (1kg)
$2.01 LYD 12.81
$2.77 ฿92.3
-27.44%
Banana (1kg)
$1.33 LYD 8.47
$1.17 ฿38.94
13.68%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.92 LYD 5.89
$1.71 ฿57.0
-46.20%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.49 LYD 3.12
$1.59 ฿53.2
-69.18%
Potato (1kg)
$0.48 LYD 3.05
$1.39 ฿46.51
-65.47%
Onion (1kg)
$0.52 LYD 3.31
$1.16 ฿38.56
-55.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$0.66 ฿22.05
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.29 LYD 1.82
$0.52 ฿17.31
-44.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.65 ฿155
-
Wine (Bottle)
-
$17.78 ฿593
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.79 ฿59.6
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.34 ฿111
-
🚌 Getting Around
Sebha
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.91 ฿30.27
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$18.64 ฿622
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$1.41 ฿47.04
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 LYD 6.53
$1.34 ฿44.70
-23.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$8.11 ฿270
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.03 LYD 0.20
$1.23 ฿41.16
-97.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$21.4K ฿715.1K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$21.8K ฿728.0K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sebha
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$24.76 LYD 158
$71.3 ฿2,379
-65.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$14.01 ฿467
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$17.93 ฿598
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sebha
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$8.20 LYD 52.3
$40.82 ฿1,362
-79.91%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.88 ฿230
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$5.72 ฿191
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sebha
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$308 ฿10.3K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$14.7K ฿489.7K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sebha
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$55.8 ฿1,860
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$26.04 ฿869
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$84.8 ฿2,829
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$71.0 ฿2,368
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sebha
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$138 LYD 882
$423 ฿14.1K
-67.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$100 LYD 640
$242 ฿8,088
-58.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$200 LYD 1,274
$797 ฿26.6K
-74.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$122 LYD 780
$507 ฿16.9K
-75.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,918 ฿64.0K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,464 ฿48.8K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sebha
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$595 ฿19.9K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
5
-

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

Last update for Sebha: July 27, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $138 in Sebha versus $423 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.

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
Sebha vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Sebha or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 306% more than Sebha, 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 Sebha and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $315 per month in Sebha and $1,279 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Sebha or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Sebha, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Sebha compared to Chiang Mai?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $210 in Sebha and $852 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Are groceries more expensive in Sebha or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 237% 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 $1,200/month in Sebha or in Chiang Mai?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $210 in Sebha and $852 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Sebha or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Sebha costs $210 versus $852 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Sebha 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 Sebha or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Sebha. 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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