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 $649 per month in Sfax vs $947 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,001 per month in Sfax vs $1,411 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,353 per month in Sfax vs $1,874 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Sfax is about 32% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Sfax and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Sfax 53% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sfax
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.43 TND 9.92
$2.08 ฿68.6
64.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.68 TND 59.8
$19.64 ฿646
5.30%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.04 TND 14.57
$5.65 ฿186
-10.80%
Cappuccino
$0.76 TND 2.21
$1.81 ฿59.4
-58.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60 TND 1.74
$0.71 ฿23.45
-15.49%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 TND 0.79
$0.32 ฿10.38
-15.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.57 TND 4.55
$2.24 ฿73.6
-29.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10 TND 6.08
$3.63 ฿119
-42.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sfax
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.51 TND 1.48
$1.96 ฿64.4
-73.98%
White Bread (500g)
$0.23 TND 0.66
$1.50 ฿49.39
-84.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.39 TND 4.02
$1.34 ฿43.93
3.73%
Eggs
$1.67 TND 4.82
$2.26 ฿74.5
-26.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.84 TND 37.12
$16.26 ฿535
-21.03%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.69 TND 16.45
$2.95 ฿97.1
92.88%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.27 TND 41.28
$9.94 ฿327
43.56%
Apples (1kg)
$1.79 TND 5.17
$2.57 ฿84.6
-30.35%
Banana (1kg)
$3.24 TND 9.36
$1.06 ฿34.73
205.66%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.08 TND 3.12
$1.61 ฿53.0
-32.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.74 TND 2.14
$1.52 ฿49.97
-51.32%
Potato (1kg)
$0.76 TND 2.21
$1.27 ฿41.77
-40.16%
Onion (1kg)
$0.78 TND 2.25
$1.07 ฿35.06
-27.10%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.59 TND 1.71
$0.72 ฿23.68
-18.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.33 TND 0.94
$0.51 ฿16.72
-35.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96 TND 11.47
$4.19 ฿138
-5.49%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.64 TND 19.20
$17.87 ฿587
-62.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15 TND 3.31
$1.69 ฿55.7
-31.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11 TND 3.21
$2.84 ฿93.3
-60.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Sfax
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.17 TND 0.50
$0.93 ฿30.43
-81.72%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.28 TND 29.72
$53.9 ฿1,771
-80.91%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.31 TND 0.89
$1.23 ฿40.59
-74.80%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 TND 1.02
$0.58 ฿18.96
-39.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.73 TND 22.36
$2.42 ฿79.7
219.42%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.90 TND 2.59
$1.41 ฿46.43
-36.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.1K TND 107.3K
$21.4K ฿705.1K
73.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.3K TND 102.0K
$27.3K ฿898.7K
29.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sfax
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$46.02 TND 133
$63.7 ฿2,093
-27.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.74 TND 28.16
$12.85 ฿423
-24.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.80 TND 42.80
$20.22 ฿665
-26.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sfax
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$28.02 TND 81.1
$38.74 ฿1,274
-27.67%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.20 TND 20.83
$3.97 ฿130
81.36%
Cinema Ticket
$4.59 TND 13.28
$6.74 ฿222
-31.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sfax
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$99.7 TND 288
$778 ฿25.6K
-87.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,463 TND 7,124
$14.6K ฿480.4K
-83.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sfax
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.92 TND 124
$54.3 ฿1,785
-20.94%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.95 TND 107
$25.45 ฿837
45.19%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$116 TND 336
$94.3 ฿3,102
23.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$67.6 TND 195
$73.4 ฿2,415
-8.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sfax
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$194 TND 562
$490 ฿16.1K
-60.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$140 TND 406
$289 ฿9,512
-51.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$339 TND 982
$894 ฿29.4K
-62.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$217 TND 626
$517 ฿17.0K
-58.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,037 TND 2,998
$1,955 ฿64.3K
-46.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$746 TND 2,159
$1,477 ฿48.6K
-49.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sfax
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$332 TND 960
$602 ฿19.8K
-44.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.6
5.57
144.17%

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

Last update for Sfax: August 31, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $194 in Sfax versus $490 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 81% 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 $21.00 in Sfax versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $197 in Sfax vs $240 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 46% more than Sfax, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. 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 $973 per month in Sfax and $1,421 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 $99.7 per month in Sfax and $778 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 22% 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 $2,000/month in Sfax or in Chiang Mai?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Sfax, where all-in costs run around $649, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Sfax it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Sfax or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Sfax costs $649 versus $947 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.

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