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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 91.1% more expensive than Butare without rent, and 90.5% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 98.6% more expensive than Butare without rent, and 90.1% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.97 ฿62.0

$1.73 RWF 2,518

13.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.68 ฿587

$20.86 RWF 30.4K

-10.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿249

$5.68 RWF 8,284

39.44%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿63.7

$1.72 RWF 2,508

17.44%

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

$0.84 ฿26.45

$0.54 RWF 782

55.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.07

$0.37 RWF 535

-5.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.22 ฿69.9

$0.66 RWF 959

236.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿113

$1.06 RWF 1,544

238.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.67 ฿52.4

$0.40 RWF 581

317.50%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿51.1

$0.90 RWF 1,316

80.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿37.83

$0.97 RWF 1,420

23.71%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿60.8

$1.43 RWF 2,081

34.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.00 ฿503

$2.21 RWF 3,224

623.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.16 ฿99.2

$3.11 RWF 4,544

1.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.93 ฿344

$2.69 RWF 3,924

306.32%

Apples (1kg)

$2.67 ฿83.8

$2.22 RWF 3,237

20.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿36.99

$0.95 RWF 1,391

24.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿51.5

$1.12 RWF 1,629

46.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿49.83

$0.75 RWF 1,089

112.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿41.64

$0.35 RWF 505

277.14%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿37.49

$0.47 RWF 680

153.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿22.20

$0.37 RWF 543

91.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿17.75

$0.55 RWF 796

1.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿146

$1.20 RWF 1,755

286.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.96 ฿596

$6.71 RWF 9,798

182.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 ฿55.7

$0.90 RWF 1,311

96.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿101

$1.35 RWF 1,973

137.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿28.32

$0.27 RWF 393

233.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.24 ฿605

$9.46 RWF 13.8K

103.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿42.78

$2.04 RWF 2,973

-33.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿42.37

$0.88 RWF 1,283

53.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.15 ฿256

$3.73 RWF 5,449

118.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿38.43

$0.79 RWF 1,148

54.43%

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

$21.4K ฿671.8K

$16.9K RWF 24.6M

26.73%

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

$21.7K ฿683.8K

$8,621 RWF 12.6M

152.30%

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

$70.3 ฿2,210

$37.11 RWF 54.2K

89.44%

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

$13.91 ฿437

$8.70 RWF 12.7K

59.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿566

$18.00 RWF 26.3K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.78 ฿1,314

$25.84 RWF 37.7K

61.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.80 ฿214

$5.42 RWF 7,919

25.46%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿180

$3.40 RWF 4,958

68.24%

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

$308 ฿9,693

$92.9 RWF 135.6K

231.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿465.7K

$1,339 RWF 2.0M

1006.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.9 ฿1,756

$13.99 RWF 20.4K

299.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.71 ฿840

$19.72 RWF 28.8K

35.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,658

$23.94 RWF 34.9K

253.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.8 ฿2,227

$31.69 RWF 46.3K

123.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$431 ฿13.5K

$206 RWF 300.0K

109.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,439

$140 RWF 203.9K

69.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$811 ฿25.5K

$311 RWF 453.7K

160.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$501 ฿15.7K

$239 RWF 348.8K

109.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,202 ฿69.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,600 ฿50.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$684 ฿21.5K

$238 RWF 346.9K

187.99%

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: January 13, 2026

Last update for Butare: January 11, 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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