Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Kisumu

For one person, living is cheaper in Kisumu: $644 a month against $925 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $3,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index
31

Cost of Living Index in Kisumu
Learn more

Kisumu Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$925

/mo nomad

Kisumu

🇰🇪 Kenya

$644

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Kisumu

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Kisumu actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $925 per month in Chiang Mai vs $644 in Kisumu, rent included.

Chiang Mai $925
Kisumu $644

A couple spends around $1,414 per month in Chiang Mai vs $977 in Kisumu, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,414
Kisumu $977

A family of three spends $1,903 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,311 in Kisumu, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,903
Kisumu $1,311

Chiang Mai costs about 44% more than Kisumu, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Chiang Mai and Kisumu are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Kisumu 52% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.29 ฿76.5

$4.65 KES 603

-50.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿656

$25.40 KES 3,293

-22.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.61 ฿188

$6.55 KES 849

-14.35%

Cappuccino

$1.66 ฿55.6

$2.57 KES 334

-35.41%

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

$0.70 ฿23.40

$0.61 KES 79.3

14.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.24

$0.60 KES 78.2

-48.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿80.4

$1.98 KES 257

21.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 ฿124

$2.78 KES 360

33.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ฿65.3

$0.52 KES 67.5

275.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ฿47.03

$0.52 KES 67.4

171.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.31 ฿43.62

$1.96 KES 254

-33.16%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿72.9

$1.69 KES 219

28.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.65 ฿556

$10.51 KES 1,363

58.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.76 ฿92.2

$6.43 KES 834

-57.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.11 ฿304

$5.07 KES 658

79.68%

Apples (1kg)

$2.39 ฿80.0

$3.43 KES 444

-30.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.03 ฿34.26

$0.94 KES 122

9.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$2.07 KES 268

-21.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.0

$1.13 KES 147

32.74%

Potato (1kg)

$1.29 ฿43.13

$1.07 KES 138

20.56%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 ฿37.03

$0.96 KES 124

15.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿24.08

$0.74 KES 95.9

-2.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.59

$0.73 KES 94.8

-27.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.31 ฿144

$3.14 KES 407

37.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.95 ฿600

$7.68 KES 996

133.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 ฿52.9

$2.27 KES 295

-30.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿95.0

$2.35 KES 305

20.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 ฿28.86

$0.80 KES 104

7.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.3 ฿1,780

$23.09 KES 2,994

130.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 ฿40.29

$1.52 KES 197

-20.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.57 ฿18.99

$1.50 KES 195

-62.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.35 ฿78.6

$2.88 KES 373

-18.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.96

$1.61 KES 208

-10.56%

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

$20.7K ฿692.8K

$19.7K KES 2.6M

5.16%

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

$26.8K ฿895.7K

$21.9K KES 2.8M

22.34%

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

$62.3 ฿2,083

$55.8 KES 7,240

11.62%

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

$12.11 ฿405

$15.35 KES 1,990

-21.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.94 ฿666

$34.77 KES 4,508

-42.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.07 ฿1,239

$23.41 KES 3,036

58.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.78 ฿126

Cinema Ticket

$6.50 ฿217

$7.91 KES 1,025

-17.83%

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

$793 ฿26.5K

$115 KES 14.9K

588.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿494.9K

$12.3K KES 1.6M

19.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.7 ฿1,796

$11.77 KES 1,527

356.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.62 ฿823

$19.06 KES 2,471

29.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.9 ฿3,036

$15.63 KES 2,026

481.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.1 ฿2,378

$15.63 KES 2,026

355.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$455 ฿15.2K

$153 KES 19.8K

197.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$298 ฿9,954

$138 KES 17.9K

115.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$908 ฿30.4K

$563 KES 73.0K

61.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$554 ฿18.5K

$212 KES 27.5K

161.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,931 ฿64.5K

$756 KES 98.1K

155.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,445 ฿48.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$591 ฿19.7K

$758 KES 98.3K

-22.09%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

14.71

-62.13%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 17, 2026

Last update for Kisumu: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$298 32.2%

Kisumu

$138 21.5% 53.6% $160

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$235 25.5%

Kisumu

$189 29.4% 19.8% $47

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$108 11.7%

Kisumu

$28 4.3% 74.2% $80

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.2%

Kisumu

$106 16.5% 12.3% $12

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$79 8.5%

Kisumu

$108 16.8% 37.5% $29

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Kisumu

$35 5.5% 41.8% $25

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Kisumu

$39 6.1% 21.6% $11

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $455 in Chiang Mai versus $153 in Kisumu. 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 28% higher in Kisumu, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $25.00 in Kisumu. Groceries tell a different story – $235 in Chiang Mai vs $189 in Kisumu – so Kisumu wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇰🇪 Kisumu

🕒 Local time

18:41 6:41 PM

14:41 2:41 PM

4 h behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

1,155,574

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Kenyan Shilling KES Sh

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.99 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

1,000 KES = 7.71 USD

1,000 KES = 6.86 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

KES, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Kenyan Shilling exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 130 KES (1,000 KES = 7.71 USD). 1 EUR = 146 KES (1,000 KES = 6.86 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Chiang Mai Kisumu 7,310 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Kisumu

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Kisumu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 44% more than Kisumu, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from clothing. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,388 per month in Chiang Mai and $965 in Kisumu. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $793 per month in Chiang Mai and $115 in Kisumu. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 25% 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 Kisumu, where all-in costs run around $644, than in Chiang Mai at $925. In Kisumu 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. Kisumu costs $644 versus $925 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 Kisumu. 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.