🙂A single person spends $773 per month in Walvis Bay vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $702 per month in Walvis Bay vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $631 per month in Walvis Bay vs $1,855 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Walvis Bay is about 11% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Walvis Bay and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Walvis Bay43% lower, Chiang Mai35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Walvis Bay
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
-
$1.98฿64.3
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$18.80฿612
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
-
$7.75฿252
-
Cappuccino
-
$1.92฿62.5
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.79฿25.79
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.36฿11.62
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.85NAD 13.83
$2.21฿72.1
-61.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.66฿119
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Walvis Bay
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.48NAD 24.04
$1.65฿53.8
-10.30%
White Bread(500g)
$0.80NAD 13.03
$1.63฿53.2
-50.92%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63NAD 26.51
$1.19฿38.86
36.97%
Eggs
$1.69NAD 27.51
$2.00฿65.1
-15.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.22NAD 150
$15.98฿520
-42.30%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.71NAD 92.9
$3.03฿98.5
88.45%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.81NAD 111
$10.86฿354
-37.29%
Apples(1kg)
$1.99NAD 32.35
$2.76฿90.0
-27.90%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81NAD 29.54
$1.18฿38.42
53.39%
Oranges(1kg)
-
$1.64฿53.5
-
Tomato(1kg)
$1.54NAD 25.11
$1.52฿49.51
1.32%
Potato(1kg)
$2.19NAD 35.71
$1.38฿45.10
58.70%
Onion(1kg)
$2.83NAD 46.13
$1.19฿38.84
137.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.64NAD 26.71
$0.70฿22.86
134.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.56฿18.13
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.58฿149
-
Wine(Bottle)
$1.77NAD 28.83
$16.56฿539
-89.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.83฿59.5
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.20฿104
-
🚌 Getting Around
Walvis Bay
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.88฿28.56
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$18.72฿610
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$1.36฿44.16
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.83NAD 13.49
$1.34฿43.65
-38.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$7.84฿256
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
-
$1.23฿39.92
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$21.6K฿704.3K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$22.5K฿734.3K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Walvis Bay
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$70.5฿2,298
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$13.68฿445
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.7NAD 1,070
$17.45฿568
276.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Walvis Bay
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.14NAD 637
$41.33฿1,346
-5.30%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.96฿227
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$5.77฿188
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Walvis Bay
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$307฿10.0K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$14.6K฿475.9K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Walvis Bay
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.4NAD 999
$55.8฿1,817
9.98%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$26.21฿854
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$85.8฿2,793
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$72.2฿2,353
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Walvis Bay
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$430฿14.0K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$470NAD 7,656
$239฿7,774
97.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$817฿26.6K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$511฿16.6K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,983฿64.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,484฿48.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Walvis Bay
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$619฿20.2K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
5
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Walvis Bay: June 7, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026
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
Walvis Bay vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Walvis Bay or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 12% more than Walvis Bay, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. 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 Walvis Bay vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,159 per month in Walvis Bay and $1,303 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How much does it cost to live in Walvis Bay compared to Chiang Mai?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $773 in Walvis Bay and $869 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Are groceries more expensive in Walvis Bay or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 47% 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 $800/month in Walvis Bay or Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $773 in Walvis Bay and $869 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Walvis Bay or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Walvis Bay costs $773 versus $869 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Walvis Bay 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 Walvis Bay or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Walvis Bay. 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.
Walvis Bay vs other spots: cost of living compared