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 $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $629 in Kilifi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,041 in Kilifi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,453 in Kilifi, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 51% more than Kilifi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Kilifi are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Kilifi 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$1.94 KES 251

8.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$51.1 KES 6,612

-61.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$2.36 KES 305

145.34%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$1.91 KES 247

-4.19%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$0.75 KES 97.3

4.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$0.78 KES 101

-60.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$1.57 KES 203

49.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$1.08 KES 140

87.96%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$0.83 KES 108

92.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$2.06 KES 266

-31.07%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$2.01 KES 259

8.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$7.60 KES 983

29.87%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$2.34 KES 302

12.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$0.72 KES 93.2

52.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$1.74 KES 224

-6.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$0.48 KES 61.7

218.75%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$0.73 KES 94.7

69.86%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$0.73 KES 94.9

54.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$0.24 KES 31.20

108.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

$12.83 KES 1,659

40.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

$1.77 KES 230

-3.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

$0.75 KES 96.7

25.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

$26.68 KES 3,450

107.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$1.36 KES 176

5.88%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$15.56 KES 2,012

317.29%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$10.48 KES 1,355

27.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$25.00 KES 3,233

-16.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

$28.21 KES 3,648

43.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$7.60 KES 983

-11.71%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$161 KES 20.8K

388.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

$5,048 KES 652.7K

199.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$9.46 KES 1,224

494.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$9.01 KES 1,164

176.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$15.20 KES 1,966

509.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$17.51 KES 2,264

329.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$333 KES 43.0K

45.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

$313 KES 40.5K

-8.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

$272 KES 35.2K

234.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$557 KES 72.1K

-4.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

$231 KES 29.8K

162.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-30.37%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Kilifi: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $333 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $51.0 in Kilifi. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $125 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 51% 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 $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $944 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 $787 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 95% 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.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Kilifi, where all-in costs run around $629, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Kilifi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kilifi costs $629 versus $950 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.