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 $791 per month in Sousse vs $947 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,259 per month in Sousse vs $1,411 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,728 per month in Sousse vs $1,874 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Sousse is about 17% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Sousse and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Sousse 42% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sousse
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.69 TND 13.56
$2.08 ฿68.6
125.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.29 TND 70.3
$19.64 ฿646
23.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.19 TND 17.90
$5.65 ฿186
9.56%
Cappuccino
$1.06 TND 3.07
$1.81 ฿59.4
-41.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 TND 2.23
$0.71 ฿23.45
8.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 TND 1.05
$0.32 ฿10.38
12.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.74 TND 5.03
$2.24 ฿73.6
-22.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70 TND 4.90
$3.63 ฿119
-53.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sousse
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.48 TND 1.40
$1.96 ฿64.4
-75.51%
White Bread (500g)
$0.15 TND 0.43
$1.50 ฿49.39
-90.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.30 TND 3.76
$1.34 ฿43.93
-2.99%
Eggs
$1.64 TND 4.75
$2.26 ฿74.5
-27.43%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.02 TND 40.54
$16.26 ฿535
-13.78%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.80 TND 16.77
$2.95 ฿97.1
96.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.39 TND 41.61
$9.94 ฿327
44.77%
Apples (1kg)
$1.92 TND 5.55
$2.57 ฿84.6
-25.29%
Banana (1kg)
$3.84 TND 11.09
$1.06 ฿34.73
262.26%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.08 TND 3.13
$1.61 ฿53.0
-32.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.78 TND 2.24
$1.52 ฿49.97
-48.68%
Potato (1kg)
$0.89 TND 2.57
$1.27 ฿41.77
-29.92%
Onion (1kg)
$0.75 TND 2.17
$1.07 ฿35.06
-29.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.43 TND 1.25
$0.72 ฿23.68
-40.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.33 TND 0.96
$0.51 ฿16.72
-35.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.73 TND 10.78
$4.19 ฿138
-10.98%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.17 TND 14.96
$17.87 ฿587
-71.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.99 TND 2.88
$1.69 ฿55.7
-41.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.19 TND 3.44
$2.84 ฿93.3
-58.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Sousse
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.35 TND 1.02
$0.93 ฿30.43
-62.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.17 TND 29.42
$53.9 ฿1,771
-81.12%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.31 TND 0.91
$1.23 ฿40.59
-74.80%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.66 TND 1.91
$0.58 ฿18.96
13.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.03 TND 11.64
$2.42 ฿79.7
66.53%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.85 TND 2.45
$1.41 ฿46.43
-39.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.2K TND 116.4K
$21.4K ฿705.1K
87.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.7K TND 109.0K
$27.3K ฿898.7K
37.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sousse
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$77.2 TND 223
$63.7 ฿2,093
21.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.94 TND 37.43
$12.85 ฿423
0.70%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.80 TND 51.5
$20.22 ฿665
-11.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sousse
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.44 TND 85.1
$38.74 ฿1,274
-24.01%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.74 TND 80.2
$3.97 ฿130
598.74%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65 TND 19.22
$6.74 ฿222
-1.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sousse
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$98.3 TND 284
$778 ฿25.6K
-87.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,033 TND 8,773
$14.6K ฿480.4K
-79.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sousse
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.89 TND 136
$54.3 ฿1,785
-13.63%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$66.3 TND 192
$25.45 ฿837
160.35%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$154 TND 446
$94.3 ฿3,102
63.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 TND 310
$73.4 ฿2,415
46.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sousse
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$247 TND 713
$490 ฿16.1K
-49.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$167 TND 484
$289 ฿9,512
-42.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$535 TND 1,546
$894 ฿29.4K
-40.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$349 TND 1,010
$517 ฿17.0K
-32.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$997 TND 2,883
$1,955 ฿64.3K
-49.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$641 TND 1,853
$1,477 ฿48.6K
-56.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sousse
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$398 TND 1,151
$602 ฿19.8K
-33.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12
5.57
115.44%

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

Last update for Sousse: August 30, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $247 in Sousse 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 51% 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 $24.00 in Sousse versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $201 in Sousse vs $240 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 Clothing & Footwear. 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 and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,186 per month in Sousse 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, 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 in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $98.3 per month in Sousse 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 Sousse or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 20% 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 Sousse or in Chiang Mai?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Sousse, where all-in costs run around $791, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Sousse 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, Sousse or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Sousse costs $791 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 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 to 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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