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 $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $438 in Kilifi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $786 in Kilifi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,133 in Kilifi, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 98% more than Kilifi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Kilifi are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Kilifi 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$2.31 KES 299

-14.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$50.9 KES 6,596

-63.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$2.33 KES 302

232.62%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$1.96 KES 254

-2.04%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$0.74 KES 96.4

6.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$0.76 KES 98.5

-52.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$1.91 KES 248

15.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$0.95 KES 123

73.68%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.76 KES 99.0

114.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$1.96 KES 254

-39.29%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$1.80 KES 234

11.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$2.37 KES 307

16.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$0.85 KES 110

38.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.82 KES 236

-9.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$0.69 KES 89.3

120.29%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$0.68 KES 87.7

102.94%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$0.61 KES 79.1

95.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$0.24 KES 31.13

133.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

$12.87 KES 1,669

28.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

$1.90 KES 247

-3.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$0.78 KES 102

12.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

$27.17 KES 3,522

-31.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$0.75 KES 97.1

78.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$1.38 KES 179

-10.87%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$15.41 KES 1,998

357.75%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$10.15 KES 1,317

34.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$25.30 KES 3,280

-31.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$27.30 KES 3,540

51.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$7.55 KES 978

-23.58%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$163 KES 21.1K

88.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$5,121 KES 664.0K

185.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$9.77 KES 1,266

471.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$8.95 KES 1,161

192.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$15.25 KES 1,977

462.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$17.63 KES 2,286

309.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$178 KES 23.1K

141.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$113 KES 14.7K

111.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$275 KES 35.7K

196.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$261 KES 33.8K

95.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

$236 KES 30.7K

161.70%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Kilifi: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $178 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 162% 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 – $241 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 98% 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 $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $657 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 $307 per month in Chiang Mai and $163 in Kilifi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 138% 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 $869 in Chiang Mai and $438 in Kilifi, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kilifi costs $438 versus $869 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.