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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $599 in Kasserine, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $917 in Kasserine, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,236 in Kasserine, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 59% more than Kasserine, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Kasserine are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Kasserine 57% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Kasserine
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.10 ฿69.3
$1.66 TND 4.80
26.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.84 ฿656
$10.93 TND 31.53
81.52%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.79 ฿191
$6.10 TND 17.61
-5.08%
Cappuccino
$1.83 ฿60.4
$0.73 TND 2.09
150.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 ฿25.61
$0.60 TND 1.74
30.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ฿10.37
$0.22 TND 0.64
40.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.34 ฿77.2
$0.87 TND 2.52
168.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.70 ฿122
$1.01 TND 2.92
266.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Kasserine
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.03 ฿67.1
$0.48 TND 1.37
322.92%
White Bread (500g)
$1.60 ฿52.7
$0.09 TND 0.26
1677.78%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.42 ฿46.75
$1.19 TND 3.42
19.33%
Eggs
$2.18 ฿71.9
$1.79 TND 5.17
21.79%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.91 ฿526
$10.40 TND 30.01
52.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.07 ฿102
$2.52 TND 7.26
21.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.87 ฿326
$13.46 TND 38.83
-26.67%
Apples (1kg)
$2.63 ฿86.8
$2.21 TND 6.37
19.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.10 ฿36.19
$4.03 TND 11.62
-72.70%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.63 ฿53.8
$1.20 TND 3.46
35.83%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿50.6
$0.77 TND 2.21
98.70%
Potato (1kg)
$1.24 ฿41.13
$0.85 TND 2.46
45.88%
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 ฿37.37
$0.65 TND 1.87
73.85%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.74 ฿24.38
$0.53 TND 1.52
39.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50 ฿16.48
$0.27 TND 0.78
85.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.28 ฿141
$3.70 TND 10.67
15.68%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.97 ฿594
$6.74 TND 19.44
166.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 ฿56.1
$1.32 TND 3.80
28.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90 ฿95.7
$1.57 TND 4.52
84.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Kasserine
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 ฿31.13
$0.39 TND 1.12
141.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$55.3 ฿1,827
$9.76 TND 28.15
466.50%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.23 ฿40.76
$0.21 TND 0.60
485.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 ฿17.66
$0.32 TND 0.91
65.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.40 ฿79.3
$1.80 TND 5.20
33.33%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.44 ฿47.55
$0.80 TND 2.31
80.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿700.2K
$38.7K TND 111.6K
-45.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.3K ฿902.1K
$36.8K TND 106.3K
-25.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Kasserine
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$64.9 ฿2,145
$68.6 TND 198
-5.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.35 ฿441
$8.55 TND 24.68
56.14%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.83 ฿688
$17.04 TND 49.17
22.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Kasserine
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.42 ฿1,336
$20.17 TND 58.2
100.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.95 ฿131
$15.46 TND 44.62
-74.45%
Cinema Ticket
$6.71 ฿222
$6.22 TND 17.95
7.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Kasserine
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$787 ฿26.0K
$20.50 TND 59.1
3739.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.1K ฿499.6K
$3,311 TND 9,553
356.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Kasserine
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.2 ฿1,858
$51.5 TND 149
9.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.95 ฿824
$31.18 TND 90.0
-19.98%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.7 ฿3,063
$40.43 TND 117
129.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.1 ฿2,482
$50.7 TND 146
48.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Kasserine
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$484 ฿16.0K
$210 TND 605
130.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$287 ฿9,491
$159 TND 459
80.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$910 ฿30.1K
$378 TND 1,092
140.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$531 ฿17.5K
$274 TND 790
93.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,980 ฿65.4K
$985 TND 2,842
101.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,451 ฿47.9K
$578 TND 1,667
151.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Kasserine
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$605 ฿20.0K
$307 TND 886
97.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
10.28
-45.82%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Kasserine: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $210 in Kasserine. 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 97% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $11.00 in Kasserine. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $178 – making Kasserine the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Chiang Mai vs Kasserine: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Kasserine?
Chiang Mai costs about 59% more than Kasserine, 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 Chiang Mai and in Kasserine?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $898 in Kasserine. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Kasserine?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kasserine, 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 Chiang Mai and in Kasserine?
Kindergarten costs $787 per month in Chiang Mai and $20.50 in Kasserine. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or in Kasserine?
Groceries cost about 36% 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 $1,500/month in Chiang Mai or in Kasserine?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kasserine, where all-in costs run around $599, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Kasserine it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Kasserine?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kasserine costs $599 versus $950 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Kasserine?
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 Chiang Mai or to Kasserine?
If budget matters most, go with Kasserine. 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.

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