🙂A single person spends $614 per month in Sfax vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $998 per month in Sfax vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,382 per month in Sfax vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Sfax is about 29% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Sfax and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Sfax54% lower, Chiang Mai35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sfax
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.32TND 9.58
$1.94฿63.5
71.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.66TND 59.7
$18.64฿609
10.84%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.42TND 9.90
$7.82฿255
-56.27%
Cappuccino
$0.76TND 2.18
$1.95฿63.8
-61.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64TND 1.86
$0.85฿27.77
-24.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25TND 0.72
$0.35฿11.58
-28.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.56TND 4.51
$2.13฿69.6
-26.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89TND 5.47
$3.73฿122
-49.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sfax
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.54TND 1.57
$1.71฿56.0
-68.42%
White Bread(500g)
$0.18TND 0.52
$1.63฿53.2
-88.96%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.55TND 4.47
$1.14฿37.15
35.96%
Eggs
$1.66TND 4.79
$1.93฿63.1
-13.99%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.33TND 32.74
$16.21฿530
-30.10%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.62TND 16.24
$3.12฿102
80.13%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.48TND 38.95
$10.90฿356
23.67%
Apples(1kg)
$2.22TND 6.41
$2.75฿90.0
-19.27%
Banana(1kg)
$2.97TND 8.60
$1.21฿39.52
145.45%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.02TND 2.93
$1.62฿53.0
-37.04%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.70TND 2.02
$1.59฿51.8
-55.97%
Potato(1kg)
$0.80TND 2.32
$1.40฿45.70
-42.86%
Onion(1kg)
$0.75TND 2.18
$1.17฿38.17
-35.90%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.49TND 1.41
$0.66฿21.60
-25.76%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.31TND 0.88
$0.53฿17.22
-41.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.48TND 10.05
$4.69฿153
-25.80%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.69TND 19.32
$18.66฿609
-64.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.11TND 3.20
$1.80฿58.8
-38.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10TND 3.19
$3.23฿106
-65.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Sfax
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.18TND 0.53
$0.90฿29.26
-80.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.29TND 29.74
$19.21฿628
-46.43%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.30TND 0.86
$1.41฿45.91
-78.72%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30TND 0.88
$1.29฿42.12
-76.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.31TND 21.13
$7.84฿256
-6.76%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.83TND 2.41
$1.27฿41.58
-34.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1KTND 101.4K
$21.3K฿694.9K
64.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1KTND 98.7K
$22.2K฿725.4K
53.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sfax
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$46.04TND 133
$69.1฿2,256
-33.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.67TND 27.96
$14.08฿460
-31.32%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.90TND 43.05
$18.00฿588
-17.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sfax
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$27.11TND 78.3
$41.06฿1,341
-33.97%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.31TND 21.14
$6.96฿227
5.03%
Cinema Ticket
$4.51TND 13.03
$5.92฿193
-23.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sfax
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$106TND 307
$299฿9,766
-64.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,494TND 7,207
$15.0K฿488.3K
-83.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sfax
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.42TND 128
$54.7฿1,787
-18.79%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.53TND 126
$26.77฿874
62.61%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$100TND 289
$85.0฿2,776
17.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$65.8TND 190
$70.6฿2,306
-6.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sfax
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$187TND 542
$428฿14.0K
-56.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$133TND 384
$237฿7,752
-44.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$333TND 962
$801฿26.2K
-58.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$248TND 718
$515฿16.8K
-51.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,031TND 2,980
$1,975฿64.5K
-47.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$663TND 1,915
$1,475฿48.2K
-55.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sfax
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$322TND 931
$617฿20.2K
-47.81%
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: May 31, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $187 in Sfax versus $428 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 92% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $190 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 41% 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 $921 per month in Sfax and $1,300 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 $106 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 30% 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 $614 in Sfax and $866 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 $614 versus $866 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.