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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $309 in Kisii, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $442 in Kisii, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $576 in Kisii, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 207% more than Kisii, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Kisii are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Kisii 78% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.0

$2.67 KES 345

-21.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿653

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.2

$1.40 KES 181

30.71%

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

$0.78 ฿25.51

$0.82 KES 105

-4.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.33

$0.22 KES 28.43

40.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿76.9

$1.83 KES 236

27.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$2.34 KES 302

58.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿66.8

$0.88 KES 114

130.68%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.5

$0.48 KES 62.1

233.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.57

$2.34 KES 302

-39.32%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.6

$1.83 KES 236

19.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿523

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿101

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿325

$4.56 KES 590

116.45%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.4

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.05

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.6

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.4

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿40.97

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.22

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.29

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.42

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿591

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿55.9

$1.96 KES 253

-13.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.3

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.00

$0.41 KES 52.8

129.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,820

$15.66 KES 2,026

253.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.60

$0.75 KES 96.4

64.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.59

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.0

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.37

$1.55 KES 201

-7.10%

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

$21.2K ฿697.5K

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

$27.3K ฿898.6K

$11.4K KES 1.5M

139.92%

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

$64.9 ฿2,137

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

$13.35 ฿439

$16.47 KES 2,131

-18.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿686

$49.35 KES 6,383

-57.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,330

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿221

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

$787 ฿25.9K

$38.45 KES 4,973

1946.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿497.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,850

$11.39 KES 1,473

393.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿821

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,051

$39.25 KES 5,076

136.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,472

$30.78 KES 3,981

144.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿15.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,454

$78.2 KES 10.1K

267.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿29.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$157 KES 20.3K

238.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿19.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Kisii: September 5, 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

Chiang Mai vs Kisii: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 207% more than Kisii, 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 $464 in Kisii. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Public transport costs about 253% less in Kisii. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 351% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kisii, where all-in costs run around $309, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Kisii 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. Kisii costs $309 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 Kisii. 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.