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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 40% more expensive than Kigali without rent, and 10.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 38.2% more expensive than Kigali without rent, and 8.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Kigali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.01 ฿64.4
$4.20 RWF 6,120
-52.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.23 ฿583
$27.87 RWF 40.6K
-34.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.65 ฿245
$6.68 RWF 9,735
14.52%
Cappuccino
$1.92 ฿61.4
$2.14 RWF 3,126
-10.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 ฿26.91
$0.85 RWF 1,241
-1.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ฿11.39
$0.55 RWF 804
-34.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.19 ฿70.0
$1.06 RWF 1,545
106.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 ฿121
$2.06 RWF 3,008
83.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Kigali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ฿52.4
$0.67 RWF 976
144.78%
White Bread (500g)
$1.62 ฿51.8
$1.04 RWF 1,510
55.77%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.15 ฿36.89
$1.29 RWF 1,888
-10.85%
Eggs
$1.94 ฿62.0
$1.69 RWF 2,467
14.79%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.94 ฿510
$4.04 RWF 5,884
294.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.10 ฿99.2
$4.32 RWF 6,300
-28.24%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.07 ฿354
$3.69 RWF 5,380
200.00%
Apples (1kg)
$2.71 ฿86.6
$2.40 RWF 3,495
12.92%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 ฿37.70
$0.94 RWF 1,377
25.53%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ฿54.5
$1.44 RWF 2,093
18.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.61 ฿51.3
$1.09 RWF 1,586
47.71%
Potato (1kg)
$1.39 ฿44.54
$0.48 RWF 704
189.58%
Onion (1kg)
$1.15 ฿36.72
$0.82 RWF 1,197
40.24%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 ฿22.77
$0.51 RWF 749
39.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ฿17.60
$0.81 RWF 1,175
-32.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.57 ฿146
$1.70 RWF 2,480
168.82%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.87 ฿604
$10.19 RWF 14.9K
85.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 ฿58.2
$0.96 RWF 1,399
89.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ฿103
$1.81 RWF 2,635
77.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Kigali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 ฿28.17
$0.34 RWF 489
158.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.89 ฿604
$27.85 RWF 40.6K
-32.17%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 ฿45.18
$3.07 RWF 4,471
-54.07%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.30 ฿41.60
$1.40 RWF 2,044
-7.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.20 ฿262
$3.84 RWF 5,603
113.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 ฿39.19
$1.19 RWF 1,736
3.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿677.2K
$26.5K RWF 38.7M
-20.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.3K ฿713.5K
$29.9K RWF 43.6M
-25.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Kigali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$69.9 ฿2,234
$46.79 RWF 68.2K
49.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.07 ฿450
$8.74 RWF 12.7K
60.98%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.70 ฿566
$17.98 RWF 26.2K
-1.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Kigali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.41 ฿1,324
$29.04 RWF 42.3K
42.60%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.69 ฿214
$3.88 RWF 5,653
72.42%
Cinema Ticket
$5.74 ฿184
$3.41 RWF 4,970
68.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Kigali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$299 ฿9,569
$155 RWF 226.5K
92.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.0K ฿480.0K
$5,064 RWF 7.4M
196.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Kigali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.8 ฿1,753
$16.95 RWF 24.7K
223.42%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.35 ฿843
$19.70 RWF 28.7K
33.76%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.7 ฿2,707
$24.44 RWF 35.6K
246.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.7 ฿2,230
$31.08 RWF 45.3K
124.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Kigali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$427 ฿13.7K
$574 RWF 837.4K
-25.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$241 ฿7,699
$365 RWF 532.3K
-34.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$811 ฿25.9K
$1,083 RWF 1.6M
-25.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ฿15.9K
$705 RWF 1.0M
-29.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,022 ฿64.7K
$3,440 RWF 5.0M
-41.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,524 ฿48.7K
$3,007 RWF 4.4M
-49.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Kigali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$639 ฿20.4K
$308 RWF 449.7K
107.20%
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: April 13, 2026

Last update for Kigali: April 14, 2026

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

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