🙂A single person spends $725 per month in Sousse vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,179 per month in Sousse vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,632 per month in Sousse vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Sousse is about 16% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Sousse and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Sousse46% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sousse
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.01TND 11.74
$1.96฿65.8
104.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.39TND 68.4
$18.35฿617
27.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.17TND 15.11
$7.48฿252
-30.88%
Cappuccino
$0.89TND 2.61
$2.02฿67.8
-55.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67TND 1.95
$0.85฿28.50
-21.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31TND 0.91
$0.36฿11.96
-13.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.16TND 3.38
$2.14฿71.8
-45.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56TND 4.57
$3.59฿121
-56.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sousse
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.49TND 1.44
$1.65฿55.5
-70.30%
White Bread(500g)
$0.17TND 0.49
$1.57฿52.7
-89.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.32TND 3.86
$1.19฿40.02
10.92%
Eggs
$1.69TND 4.94
$1.94฿65.1
-12.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.23TND 35.77
$16.19฿544
-24.46%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.60TND 16.38
$2.99฿101
87.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.91TND 40.71
$10.94฿368
27.15%
Apples(1kg)
$1.58TND 4.62
$2.71฿91.2
-41.70%
Banana(1kg)
$3.22TND 9.41
$1.17฿39.25
175.21%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.92TND 2.69
$1.69฿56.7
-45.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.63TND 1.84
$1.60฿54.0
-60.63%
Potato(1kg)
$0.70TND 2.04
$1.38฿46.54
-49.28%
Onion(1kg)
$0.59TND 1.72
$1.20฿40.45
-50.83%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.40TND 1.18
$0.67฿22.50
-40.30%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.32TND 0.94
$0.56฿18.73
-42.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.54TND 10.36
$4.64฿156
-23.71%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.04TND 14.74
$17.62฿593
-71.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18TND 3.46
$1.86฿62.5
-36.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06TND 3.10
$3.30฿111
-67.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Sousse
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.31TND 0.90
$0.88฿29.68
-64.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.06TND 29.43
$19.34฿650
-47.98%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.32TND 0.93
$1.36฿45.90
-76.47%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.49TND 1.43
$1.34฿44.98
-63.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.00TND 17.57
$8.21฿276
-26.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.82TND 2.40
$1.22฿41.18
-32.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$47.0KTND 137.6K
$21.4K฿718.1K
120.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.8KTND 107.6K
$22.5K฿757.7K
63.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sousse
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$63.7TND 186
$70.7฿2,376
-9.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.06TND 32.38
$14.04฿472
-21.23%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.22TND 53.3
$17.49฿588
4.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sousse
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$26.64TND 77.9
$42.15฿1,417
-36.80%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.09TND 79.3
$6.88฿231
293.75%
Cinema Ticket
$6.41TND 18.77
$5.92฿199
8.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sousse
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$106TND 311
$309฿10.4K
-65.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,225TND 9,437
$14.9K฿500.4K
-78.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sousse
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.09TND 120
$55.8฿1,875
-26.31%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.3TND 176
$26.11฿878
130.75%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$153TND 449
$83.0฿2,792
84.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.5TND 247
$70.5฿2,369
19.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sousse
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$240TND 703
$432฿14.5K
-44.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$164TND 480
$239฿8,035
-31.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$435TND 1,272
$822฿27.7K
-47.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$322TND 942
$512฿17.2K
-37.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,006TND 2,944
$1,915฿64.4K
-47.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$633TND 1,853
$1,467฿49.3K
-56.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sousse
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$382TND 1,117
$579฿19.5K
-34.09%
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: July 13, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $240 in Sousse 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 52% 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 $23.00 in Sousse versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $186 in Sousse vs $243 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 19% 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 and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,088 per month in Sousse 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, 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 $106 per month in Sousse 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 Sousse or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 31% 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 in Chiang Mai?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $725 in Sousse and $861 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 $725 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 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.