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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $628 per month in Sfax vs $872 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,005 per month in Sfax vs $1,337 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,382 per month in Sfax vs $1,802 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Sfax is about 28% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Sfax and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Sfax 53% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sfax
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.36 TND 9.67
$2.01 ฿64.5
67.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.94 TND 57.4
$18.23 ฿584
9.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.43 TND 9.89
$7.65 ฿245
-55.16%
Cappuccino
$0.72 TND 2.07
$1.92 ฿61.5
-62.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 TND 1.85
$0.84 ฿26.97
-23.81%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23 TND 0.66
$0.36 ฿11.42
-36.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.50 TND 4.31
$2.19 ฿70.2
-31.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89 TND 5.45
$3.79 ฿121
-50.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sfax
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.54 TND 1.54
$1.64 ฿52.5
-67.07%
White Bread (500g)
$0.18 TND 0.52
$1.62 ฿52.0
-88.89%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.54 TND 4.44
$1.15 ฿36.98
33.91%
Eggs
$1.58 TND 4.56
$1.94 ฿62.2
-18.56%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.44 TND 32.94
$15.94 ฿511
-28.23%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.77 TND 16.62
$3.10 ฿99.5
86.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.43 TND 38.68
$11.07 ฿355
21.32%
Apples (1kg)
$2.16 TND 6.23
$2.71 ฿86.8
-20.30%
Banana (1kg)
$2.98 TND 8.58
$1.18 ฿37.80
152.54%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.05 TND 3.02
$1.71 ฿54.7
-38.60%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.69 TND 2.00
$1.61 ฿51.5
-57.14%
Potato (1kg)
$0.74 TND 2.13
$1.39 ฿44.66
-46.76%
Onion (1kg)
$0.71 TND 2.05
$1.15 ฿36.81
-38.26%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.52 TND 1.50
$0.71 ฿22.83
-26.76%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.33 TND 0.96
$0.55 ฿17.65
-40.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.50 TND 10.09
$4.57 ฿146
-23.41%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.86 TND 19.76
$18.87 ฿605
-63.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.10 TND 3.17
$1.82 ฿58.4
-39.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09 TND 3.14
$3.21 ฿103
-66.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Sfax
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.18 TND 0.53
$0.88 ฿28.24
-79.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.00 TND 28.80
$18.89 ฿606
-47.06%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.30 TND 0.85
$1.41 ฿45.30
-78.72%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.31 TND 0.88
$1.30 ฿41.71
-76.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.52 TND 21.65
$8.20 ฿263
-8.29%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.88 TND 2.53
$1.23 ฿39.29
-28.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.8K TND 103.0K
$21.2K ฿678.9K
68.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4K TND 99.1K
$22.3K ฿715.3K
54.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sfax
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$45.20 TND 130
$69.9 ฿2,240
-35.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.57 TND 27.55
$14.07 ฿451
-31.98%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.11 TND 43.50
$17.70 ฿567
-14.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sfax
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$27.00 TND 77.8
$41.41 ฿1,328
-34.80%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.42 TND 21.37
$6.69 ฿215
10.91%
Cinema Ticket
$4.64 TND 13.36
$5.74 ฿184
-19.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sfax
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$110 TND 317
$299 ฿9,593
-63.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,460 TND 7,086
$15.0K ฿481.2K
-83.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sfax
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.58 TND 131
$54.8 ฿1,758
-16.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.60 TND 128
$26.35 ฿845
69.26%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 TND 290
$84.7 ฿2,714
18.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$65.6 TND 189
$69.7 ฿2,236
-5.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sfax
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$188 TND 542
$427 ฿13.7K
-55.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$133 TND 384
$241 ฿7,718
-44.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$336 TND 968
$811 ฿26.0K
-58.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$251 TND 722
$498 ฿16.0K
-49.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$995 TND 2,867
$2,022 ฿64.8K
-50.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$669 TND 1,927
$1,524 ฿48.9K
-56.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sfax
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$325 TND 936
$639 ฿20.5K
-49.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.6
5
172.00%

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

Last update for Sfax: April 12, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $188 in Sfax versus $427 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 97% 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 in Sfax versus $18 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $191 in Sfax vs $246 in Chiang Mai – so Sfax 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
Sfax vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Sfax or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 39% more than Sfax, 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 Sfax vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $942 per month in Sfax and $1,308 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Sfax or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Sfax, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Sfax and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $110 per month in Sfax and $299 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 Sfax or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 29% 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 Sfax or Chiang Mai?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $628 in Sfax and $872 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Sfax or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Sfax costs $628 versus $872 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Sfax 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 Sfax or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Sfax. 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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