🙂A single person spends $776 per month in Walvis Bay vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $694 per month in Walvis Bay vs $1,360 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $611 per month in Walvis Bay vs $1,867 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Walvis Bay is about 9% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Walvis Bay and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Walvis Bay42% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Walvis Bay
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
-
$2.04฿68.2
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$18.71฿624
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
-
$7.86฿262
-
Cappuccino
-
$2.03฿67.7
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.80฿26.64
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.35฿11.68
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.84NAD 13.91
$2.14฿71.5
-60.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.67฿122
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Walvis Bay
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.48NAD 24.46
$1.73฿57.6
-14.45%
White Bread(500g)
$0.86NAD 14.23
$1.57฿52.4
-45.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70NAD 28.05
$1.20฿39.99
41.67%
Eggs
$1.68NAD 27.79
$1.97฿65.8
-14.72%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.38NAD 155
$16.23฿541
-42.21%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.50NAD 90.9
$3.06฿102
79.74%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.64NAD 110
$10.80฿360
-38.52%
Apples(1kg)
$2.02NAD 33.47
$2.77฿92.3
-27.08%
Banana(1kg)
$1.86NAD 30.84
$1.17฿38.94
58.97%
Oranges(1kg)
-
$1.71฿57.0
-
Tomato(1kg)
$1.53NAD 25.38
$1.59฿53.2
-3.77%
Potato(1kg)
$2.20NAD 36.44
$1.39฿46.51
58.27%
Onion(1kg)
$2.78NAD 45.97
$1.16฿38.56
139.66%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.69NAD 27.95
$0.66฿22.05
156.06%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.52฿17.31
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.65฿155
-
Wine(Bottle)
$1.82NAD 30.17
$17.78฿593
-89.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.79฿59.6
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.34฿111
-
🚌 Getting Around
Walvis Bay
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.91฿30.27
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$18.64฿622
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$1.41฿47.04
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.79NAD 13.03
$1.34฿44.70
-41.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$8.11฿270
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
-
$1.23฿41.16
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$21.4K฿715.1K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$21.8K฿728.0K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Walvis Bay
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$71.3฿2,379
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$14.01฿467
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.7NAD 1,104
$17.93฿598
272.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Walvis Bay
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.47NAD 653
$40.82฿1,362
-3.31%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.88฿230
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$5.72฿191
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Walvis Bay
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$308฿10.3K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$14.7K฿489.7K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Walvis Bay
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.5NAD 1,000
$55.8฿1,860
8.43%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$26.04฿869
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$84.8฿2,829
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$71.0฿2,368
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Walvis Bay
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$423฿14.1K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$466NAD 7,715
$242฿8,088
92.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$797฿26.6K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$507฿16.9K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,918฿64.0K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,464฿48.8K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Walvis Bay
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$595฿19.9K
-
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: July 26, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 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 10% 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 and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,164 per month in Walvis Bay and $1,279 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 $776 in Walvis Bay and $852 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 in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 49% 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 in Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $776 in Walvis Bay and $852 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 $776 versus $852 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 to 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