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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $728 per month in Sousse vs $872 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,171 per month in Sousse vs $1,337 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,613 per month in Sousse vs $1,802 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Sousse is about 17% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Sousse and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Sousse 46% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sousse
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.01 TND 11.56
$2.01 ฿64.5
99.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.40 TND 67.4
$18.23 ฿584
28.36%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.10 TND 14.68
$7.65 ฿245
-33.33%
Cappuccino
$0.90 TND 2.60
$1.92 ฿61.5
-53.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65 TND 1.87
$0.84 ฿26.97
-22.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29 TND 0.83
$0.36 ฿11.42
-19.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.20 TND 3.47
$2.19 ฿70.2
-45.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58 TND 4.55
$3.79 ฿121
-58.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sousse
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.50 TND 1.43
$1.64 ฿52.5
-69.51%
White Bread (500g)
$0.18 TND 0.51
$1.62 ฿52.0
-88.89%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.32 TND 3.80
$1.15 ฿36.98
14.78%
Eggs
$1.71 TND 4.93
$1.94 ฿62.2
-11.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.34 TND 35.54
$15.94 ฿511
-22.58%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.67 TND 16.32
$3.10 ฿99.5
82.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.91 TND 40.06
$11.07 ฿355
25.65%
Apples (1kg)
$1.58 TND 4.54
$2.71 ฿86.8
-41.70%
Banana (1kg)
$3.07 TND 8.85
$1.18 ฿37.80
160.17%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.97 TND 2.80
$1.71 ฿54.7
-43.27%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.58 TND 1.66
$1.61 ฿51.5
-63.98%
Potato (1kg)
$0.67 TND 1.92
$1.39 ฿44.66
-51.80%
Onion (1kg)
$0.63 TND 1.82
$1.15 ฿36.81
-45.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.40 TND 1.15
$0.71 ฿22.83
-43.66%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.30 TND 0.86
$0.55 ฿17.65
-45.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.58 TND 10.32
$4.57 ฿146
-21.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.34 TND 15.37
$18.87 ฿605
-71.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14 TND 3.28
$1.82 ฿58.4
-37.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08 TND 3.12
$3.21 ฿103
-66.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Sousse
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.31 TND 0.89
$0.88 ฿28.24
-64.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.24 TND 29.50
$18.89 ฿606
-45.79%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.34 TND 0.99
$1.41 ฿45.30
-75.89%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.49 TND 1.41
$1.30 ฿41.71
-62.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.08 TND 17.50
$8.20 ฿263
-25.85%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.89 TND 2.58
$1.23 ฿39.29
-27.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$46.6K TND 134.3K
$21.2K ฿678.9K
120.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.6K TND 105.4K
$22.3K ฿715.3K
64.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sousse
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$64.8 TND 187
$69.9 ฿2,240
-7.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.93 TND 31.47
$14.07 ฿451
-22.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.30 TND 52.7
$17.70 ฿567
3.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sousse
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$27.01 TND 77.8
$41.41 ฿1,328
-34.77%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.81 TND 77.2
$6.69 ฿215
300.75%
Cinema Ticket
$6.33 TND 18.24
$5.74 ฿184
10.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sousse
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$104 TND 301
$299 ฿9,593
-65.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,187 TND 9,178
$15.0K ฿481.2K
-78.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sousse
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.16 TND 121
$54.8 ฿1,758
-23.09%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.6 TND 177
$26.35 ฿845
133.62%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$150 TND 432
$84.7 ฿2,714
77.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.0 TND 236
$69.7 ฿2,236
17.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sousse
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$248 TND 715
$427 ฿13.7K
-41.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$163 TND 470
$241 ฿7,718
-32.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$431 TND 1,242
$811 ฿26.0K
-46.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$329 TND 946
$498 ฿16.0K
-34.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,007 TND 2,901
$2,022 ฿64.8K
-50.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$655 TND 1,886
$1,524 ฿48.9K
-57.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sousse
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$390 TND 1,123
$639 ฿20.5K
-38.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12
5
140.00%

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

Last update for Sousse: April 12, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $248 in Sousse 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 64% 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 $23 in Sousse versus $18 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $186 in Sousse vs $246 in Chiang Mai – so Sousse 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
Sousse vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Sousse or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 20% more than Sousse, 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 Sousse vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,092 per month in Sousse 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, Sousse or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Sousse, 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 Sousse and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $104 per month in Sousse 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 Sousse or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 32% 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 Sousse or Chiang Mai?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $728 in Sousse and $872 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Sousse or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Sousse costs $728 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 Sousse 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 Sousse or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Sousse. 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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