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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 120.3% more expensive than Butare without rent, and 85.8% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 99.8% more expensive than Butare without rent, and 85.5% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.03 ฿64.8

$1.77 RWF 2,586

14.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.59 ฿594

$20.66 RWF 30.1K

-10.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿239

$5.43 RWF 7,923

37.75%

Cappuccino

$2.00 ฿63.8

$1.71 RWF 2,491

16.96%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.85 ฿27.08

$0.59 RWF 857

44.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.24

$0.36 RWF 531

-2.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿70.7

$0.71 RWF 1,033

211.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.76 ฿120

$1.07 RWF 1,559

251.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 ฿54.9

$0.39 RWF 574

341.03%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿52.2

$0.98 RWF 1,437

66.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 ฿37.04

$0.91 RWF 1,323

27.47%

Eggs

$1.98 ฿63.3

$1.47 RWF 2,145

34.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.93 ฿509

$2.29 RWF 3,344

595.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ฿101

$2.97 RWF 4,337

6.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿349

$2.68 RWF 3,913

306.72%

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 ฿84.6

$2.26 RWF 3,294

17.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.09

$0.89 RWF 1,297

37.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿54.3

$1.13 RWF 1,653

50.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿50.8

$0.79 RWF 1,156

101.27%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿42.33

$0.32 RWF 460

312.50%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿37.36

$0.47 RWF 682

148.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ฿21.67

$0.35 RWF 505

94.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿17.81

$0.58 RWF 843

-3.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.51 ฿144

$1.21 RWF 1,760

272.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.07 ฿610

$6.85 RWF 9,992

178.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 ฿56.6

$0.90 RWF 1,309

96.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ฿102

$1.42 RWF 2,066

123.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.96 ฿30.78

$0.29 RWF 427

231.03%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.90 ฿604

$9.97 RWF 14.6K

89.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿43.41

$2.11 RWF 3,076

-35.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿43.23

$0.87 RWF 1,263

55.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.03 ฿257

$3.85 RWF 5,619

108.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ฿39.74

$0.77 RWF 1,130

61.04%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.2K ฿676.6K

$17.0K RWF 24.8M

24.68%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$21.8K ฿695.5K

$8,586 RWF 12.5M

153.38%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$71.2 ฿2,277

$37.05 RWF 54.1K

92.28%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$14.09 ฿450

$8.83 RWF 12.9K

59.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.47 ฿559

$17.66 RWF 25.8K

-1.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.07 ฿1,345

$26.01 RWF 38.0K

61.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿220

$5.56 RWF 8,116

23.74%

Cinema Ticket

$5.94 ฿190

$3.45 RWF 5,029

72.17%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$307 ฿9,827

$93.2 RWF 136.0K

229.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿473.0K

$1,372 RWF 2.0M

978.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.7 ฿1,780

$14.14 RWF 20.6K

293.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.79 ฿856

$19.66 RWF 28.7K

36.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.2 ฿2,661

$24.08 RWF 35.1K

245.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.1 ฿2,241

$31.51 RWF 46.0K

122.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$427 ฿13.7K

$205 RWF 299.7K

108.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,580

$140 RWF 203.7K

69.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$802 ฿25.6K

$313 RWF 457.4K

155.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$503 ฿16.1K

$236 RWF 343.9K

113.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,061 ฿65.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,533 ฿49.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$654 ฿20.9K

$231 RWF 336.8K

183.24%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.2

-69.14%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: March 1, 2026

Last update for Butare: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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