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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 44.8% more expensive than Kigali without rent, and 6.5% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 31.4% more expensive than Kigali without rent, and 8.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Kigali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.03 ฿64.0
$4.27 RWF 6,241
-52.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.59 ฿586
$28.07 RWF 41.0K
-33.77%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.48 ฿236
$6.46 RWF 9,449
15.79%
Cappuccino
$2.00 ฿63.0
$2.24 RWF 3,278
-10.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 ฿26.72
$0.87 RWF 1,265
-2.30%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.09
$0.51 RWF 750
-31.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ฿69.8
$1.06 RWF 1,552
108.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.76 ฿118
$2.11 RWF 3,090
78.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Kigali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 ฿54.2
$0.67 RWF 972
156.72%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 ฿51.5
$1.06 RWF 1,551
53.77%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 ฿36.54
$1.23 RWF 1,797
-5.69%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿62.4
$1.69 RWF 2,478
17.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.93 ฿502
$4.01 RWF 5,861
297.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 ฿99.9
$4.33 RWF 6,334
-26.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.90 ฿344
$3.80 RWF 5,554
186.84%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 ฿83.4
$2.49 RWF 3,634
6.43%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿38.57
$0.93 RWF 1,365
31.18%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.70 ฿53.5
$1.48 RWF 2,158
14.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 ฿50.2
$1.13 RWF 1,652
40.71%
Potato (1kg)
$1.32 ฿41.76
$0.52 RWF 755
153.85%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ฿36.86
$0.83 RWF 1,209
40.96%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ฿21.38
$0.51 RWF 747
33.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿17.58
$0.81 RWF 1,188
-30.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.51 ฿142
$1.69 RWF 2,468
166.86%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.07 ฿602
$10.10 RWF 14.8K
88.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 ฿55.8
$0.97 RWF 1,412
82.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 ฿100
$1.81 RWF 2,648
75.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Kigali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.96 ฿30.37
$0.34 RWF 492
182.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.90 ฿596
$28.00 RWF 40.9K
-32.50%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ฿42.83
$3.17 RWF 4,627
-57.10%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿42.65
$1.46 RWF 2,128
-7.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.03 ฿253
$3.74 RWF 5,469
114.71%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 ฿39.20
$1.19 RWF 1,745
4.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿667.5K
$27.1K RWF 39.6M
-21.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿686.1K
$29.8K RWF 43.6M
-27.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Kigali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$71.2 ฿2,247
$45.96 RWF 67.2K
55.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.09 ฿444
$8.68 RWF 12.7K
62.33%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.47 ฿551
$17.72 RWF 25.9K
-1.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Kigali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.07 ฿1,327
$28.87 RWF 42.2K
45.72%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88 ฿217
$3.78 RWF 5,528
82.01%
Cinema Ticket
$5.94 ฿187
$3.38 RWF 4,942
75.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Kigali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$307 ฿9,694
$153 RWF 224.0K
100.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿466.6K
$5,118 RWF 7.5M
189.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Kigali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.7 ฿1,756
$17.20 RWF 25.1K
223.66%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.79 ฿845
$19.28 RWF 28.2K
38.95%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.2 ฿2,625
$24.14 RWF 35.3K
244.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.1 ฿2,211
$31.82 RWF 46.5K
120.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Kigali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$427 ฿13.5K
$586 RWF 856.2K
-27.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$237 ฿7,478
$357 RWF 521.4K
-33.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$802 ฿25.3K
$1,098 RWF 1.6M
-26.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$503 ฿15.9K
$701 RWF 1.0M
-28.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,061 ฿65.0K
$2,533 RWF 3.7M
-18.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,533 ฿48.3K
$3,015 RWF 4.4M
-49.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Kigali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$654 ฿20.6K
$291 RWF 425.2K
124.76%
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: March 1, 2026

Last update for Kigali: March 1, 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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