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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $433 in Kilifi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $769 in Kilifi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,105 in Kilifi, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 97% more than Kilifi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Kilifi are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Kilifi 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.4

$2.38 KES 308

-14.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿626

$50.6 KES 6,545

-63.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿263

$2.37 KES 306

231.65%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.9

$1.88 KES 243

7.98%

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

$0.80 ฿26.71

$0.78 KES 101

2.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.71

$0.78 KES 101

-55.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.7

$1.98 KES 257

8.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿123

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.8

$0.91 KES 117

90.11%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.5

$0.74 KES 96.2

112.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.10

$1.95 KES 252

-38.46%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿66.0

$1.87 KES 242

5.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿543

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿361

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.6

$2.35 KES 304

17.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.05

$0.88 KES 114

32.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.1

$1.76 KES 227

-2.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.3

$0.65 KES 84.3

144.62%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.63

$0.63 KES 81.9

120.63%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.67

$0.59 KES 76.8

96.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.11

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.35

$0.24 KES 31.21

116.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿595

$12.94 KES 1,673

37.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.8

$1.98 KES 256

-9.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿112

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.35

$0.73 KES 94.9

24.66%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿624

$27.39 KES 3,540

-31.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.17

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.82

$0.76 KES 97.6

76.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿271

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.27

$1.31 KES 169

-6.11%

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

$21.4K ฿717.0K

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

$21.8K ฿730.0K

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

$71.3 ฿2,386

$15.64 KES 2,021

356.07%

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

$14.01 ฿469

$10.15 KES 1,312

38.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿600

$24.82 KES 3,208

-27.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,365

$27.43 KES 3,545

48.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$7.84 KES 1,014

-27.04%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$161 KES 20.9K

90.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿491.0K

$5,004 KES 646.7K

193.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,865

$9.41 KES 1,216

492.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿871

$9.04 KES 1,169

188.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,837

$15.65 KES 2,023

441.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,375

$17.33 KES 2,240

309.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.2K

$177 KES 22.9K

139.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,110

$115 KES 14.8K

111.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.7K

$271 KES 35.0K

194.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿17.0K

$262 KES 33.8K

93.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿49.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

$230 KES 29.7K

158.98%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-37.50%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026

Last update for Kilifi: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $177 in Kilifi. 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 159% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $51.0 in Kilifi. Groceries tell a different story – $244 in Chiang Mai vs $101 in Kilifi – so Kilifi wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Kilifi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 97% more than Kilifi, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $650 in Kilifi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Kilifi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $308 per month in Chiang Mai and $161 in Kilifi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 142% 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.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $433 in Kilifi, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kilifi costs $433 versus $852 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Kilifi. 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.