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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 39.8% more expensive than Kigali without rent, and 11.5% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 38.1% more expensive than Kigali without rent, and 12.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Kigali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.02 ฿65.3
$4.06 RWF 5,738
-50.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.78 ฿608
$27.47 RWF 38.8K
-31.63%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.67 ฿248
$6.71 RWF 9,468
14.31%
Cappuccino
$1.98 ฿64.2
$2.25 RWF 3,176
-12.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ฿26.64
$0.81 RWF 1,145
1.23%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ฿10.58
$0.57 RWF 800
-42.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.12 ฿68.6
$1.05 RWF 1,485
101.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿121
$2.11 RWF 2,983
76.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Kigali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ฿53.2
$0.72 RWF 1,010
127.78%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ฿50.9
$1.03 RWF 1,454
52.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿38.62
$1.29 RWF 1,815
-7.75%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿64.1
$1.69 RWF 2,386
17.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.99 ฿517
$3.99 RWF 5,631
300.75%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 ฿101
$4.45 RWF 6,282
-29.89%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.16 ฿361
$3.6 RWF 5,084
210.00%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 ฿89.2
$2.5 RWF 3,532
10.40%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿39.5
$1.01 RWF 1,428
20.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ฿55.4
$1.42 RWF 2,000
20.42%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 ฿50.2
$1.15 RWF 1,619
34.78%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 ฿43.21
$0.51 RWF 722
162.75%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 ฿39.23
$0.81 RWF 1,145
49.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿23.2
$0.51 RWF 716
41.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.05
$0.82 RWF 1,152
-35.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.72 ฿153
$1.77 RWF 2,494
166.67%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.39 ฿595
$10.52 RWF 14.8K
74.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ฿57.9
$0.91 RWF 1,287
96.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ฿104
$1.73 RWF 2,444
85.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Kigali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 ฿30.44
$0.36 RWF 514
161.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.9 ฿612
$27.47 RWF 38.8K
-31.20%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 ฿46.08
$3.1 RWF 4,369
-54.19%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿43.53
$1.44 RWF 2,026
-6.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 ฿254
$3.86 RWF 5,442
103.37%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 ฿40.4
$1.15 RWF 1,621
8.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿684.9K
$26.8K RWF 37.8M
-20.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿706.8K
$29.9K RWF 42.2M
-26.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Kigali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.6 ฿2,285
$47.2 RWF 66.6K
49.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.72 ฿444
$8.89 RWF 12.6K
54.33%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.56 ฿568
$17.91 RWF 25.3K
-1.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Kigali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.64 ฿1,347
$28.84 RWF 40.7K
44.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.9 ฿223
$3.71 RWF 5,233
85.98%
Cinema Ticket
$5.8 ฿188
$3.42 RWF 4,832
69.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Kigali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 ฿9,963
$152 RWF 214.6K
102.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ฿475.8K
$5,143 RWF 7.3M
185.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Kigali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4 ฿1,793
$16.72 RWF 23.6K
231.34%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.4 ฿854
$19.23 RWF 27.2K
37.29%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.1 ฿2,755
$23.97 RWF 33.8K
255.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8 ฿2,323
$31.02 RWF 43.8K
131.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Kigali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$434 ฿14K
$576 RWF 812.7K
-24.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 ฿7,610
$361 RWF 510.3K
-34.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$821 ฿26.6K
$1,081 RWF 1.5M
-24.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ฿16.1K
$705 RWF 994.9K
-29.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,180 ฿70.6K
$2,784 RWF 3.9M
-21.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,543 ฿49.9K
$3,048 RWF 4.3M
-49.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Kigali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$703 ฿22.8K
$270 RWF 381K
160.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
16.2
-69.14%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

Last update for Kigali: October 29, 2025

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