🙂A single person spends $607 per month in Sfax vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $984 per month in Sfax vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,360 per month in Sfax vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Sfax is about 30% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Sfax and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Sfax55% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sfax
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.37TND 9.85
$1.96฿65.8
71.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.38TND 59.6
$18.35฿617
11.06%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.30TND 9.67
$7.48฿252
-55.88%
Cappuccino
$0.78TND 2.27
$2.02฿67.8
-61.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64TND 1.89
$0.85฿28.50
-24.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25TND 0.73
$0.36฿11.96
-30.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.56TND 4.55
$2.14฿71.8
-27.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92TND 5.61
$3.59฿121
-46.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sfax
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.53TND 1.56
$1.65฿55.5
-67.88%
White Bread(500g)
$0.16TND 0.46
$1.57฿52.7
-89.81%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.50TND 4.38
$1.19฿40.02
26.05%
Eggs
$1.58TND 4.63
$1.94฿65.1
-18.56%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.15TND 32.62
$16.19฿544
-31.13%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.76TND 16.84
$2.99฿101
92.64%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.29TND 38.88
$10.94฿368
21.48%
Apples(1kg)
$2.23TND 6.53
$2.71฿91.2
-17.71%
Banana(1kg)
$2.95TND 8.64
$1.17฿39.25
152.14%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.05TND 3.08
$1.69฿56.7
-37.87%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.69TND 2.03
$1.60฿54.0
-56.88%
Potato(1kg)
$0.80TND 2.35
$1.38฿46.54
-42.03%
Onion(1kg)
$0.77TND 2.25
$1.20฿40.45
-35.83%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.51TND 1.50
$0.67฿22.50
-23.88%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.31TND 0.90
$0.56฿18.73
-44.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.60TND 10.55
$4.64฿156
-22.41%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.65TND 19.46
$17.62฿593
-62.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.10TND 3.22
$1.86฿62.5
-40.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05TND 3.08
$3.30฿111
-68.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Sfax
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.21TND 0.61
$0.88฿29.68
-76.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.10TND 29.56
$19.34฿650
-47.78%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.32TND 0.95
$1.36฿45.90
-76.47%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.33TND 0.97
$1.34฿44.98
-75.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.59TND 22.22
$8.21฿276
-7.55%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.82TND 2.40
$1.22฿41.18
-32.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.3KTND 106.2K
$21.4K฿718.1K
69.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.0KTND 102.5K
$22.5K฿757.7K
55.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sfax
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$45.93TND 134
$70.7฿2,376
-35.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.42TND 27.57
$14.04฿472
-32.91%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.56TND 42.61
$17.49฿588
-16.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sfax
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$27.04TND 79.1
$42.15฿1,417
-35.85%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.49TND 21.92
$6.88฿231
8.87%
Cinema Ticket
$4.67TND 13.68
$5.92฿199
-21.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sfax
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$110TND 322
$309฿10.4K
-64.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,482TND 7,262
$14.9K฿500.4K
-83.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sfax
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.06TND 129
$55.8฿1,875
-20.98%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.10TND 129
$26.11฿878
68.90%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101TND 297
$83.0฿2,792
22.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$65.1TND 190
$70.5฿2,369
-7.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sfax
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$187TND 546
$432฿14.5K
-56.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$134TND 391
$239฿8,035
-44.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$336TND 984
$822฿27.7K
-59.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$249TND 729
$512฿17.2K
-51.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,017TND 2,977
$1,915฿64.4K
-46.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$647TND 1,893
$1,467฿49.3K
-55.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sfax
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$327TND 957
$579฿19.5K
-43.52%
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: July 14, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $187 in Sfax 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 77% 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 Sfax versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $188 in Sfax vs $243 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 42% 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 and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $910 per month in Sfax 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, 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 in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $110 per month in Sfax and $309 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 in 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 in Chiang Mai?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $607 in Sfax and $861 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 $607 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 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 to 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.