Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Rwanda
For one person, living is cheaper in Rwanda: $803 a month against $906 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $1,200 less a year. The total is higher in Chiang Mai despite lower rent and utilities.
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Chiang Mai Living Index45Cost of Living Index in Chiang MaiLearn more -
Rwanda Living Index39Cost of Living Index in RwandaLearn more
😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 44.3% more expensive than Rwanda without rent, and 12.8% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 41.1% more expensive than Rwanda without rent, and 4.4% more expensive with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Rwanda
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.13 ฿71.4
$3.14 RWF 4,613
-32.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.40 ฿649
$25.44 RWF 37.4K
-23.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.47 ฿183
$6.65 RWF 9,771
-17.74%
Cappuccino
$1.68 ฿56.4
$2.37 RWF 3,489
-29.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66 ฿22.10
$0.74 RWF 1,083
-10.81%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 ฿11.52
$0.56 RWF 828
-39.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.42 ฿81.0
$0.99 RWF 1,456
144.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿125
$2.08 RWF 3,061
79.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Rwanda
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.06 ฿68.9
$0.85 RWF 1,250
142.35%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 ฿48.78
$0.99 RWF 1,456
47.47%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.35 ฿45.09
$1.27 RWF 1,869
6.30%
Eggs
$2.27 ฿76.0
$1.59 RWF 2,336
42.77%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.31 ฿546
$3.85 RWF 5,658
323.64%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.70 ฿90.3
$4.17 RWF 6,134
-35.25%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.20 ฿308
$4.15 RWF 6,104
121.69%
Apples (1kg)
$2.39 ฿80.1
$2.75 RWF 4,043
-13.09%
Banana (1kg)
$1.04 ฿34.66
$0.82 RWF 1,209
26.83%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 ฿53.7
$1.56 RWF 2,299
2.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.44 ฿48.37
$0.98 RWF 1,442
46.94%
Potato (1kg)
$1.30 ฿43.59
$0.47 RWF 692
176.60%
Onion (1kg)
$1.11 ฿37.29
$0.74 RWF 1,095
50.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.70 ฿23.55
$0.46 RWF 675
52.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.99
$0.80 RWF 1,171
-36.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.13 ฿138
$2.00 RWF 2,939
106.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.78 ฿595
$9.98 RWF 14.7K
78.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 ฿54.7
$1.14 RWF 1,680
42.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 ฿96.0
$1.58 RWF 2,327
81.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Rwanda
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 ฿28.76
$0.36 RWF 523
138.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.2 ฿1,780
$28.50 RWF 41.9K
86.49%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.22 ฿40.81
$2.73 RWF 4,017
-55.31%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.56 ฿18.81
$2.07 RWF 3,042
-72.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.31 ฿77.5
$3.36 RWF 4,936
-31.25%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.50 ฿50.2
$1.82 RWF 2,682
-17.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.9K ฿698.3K
$26.3K RWF 38.7M
-20.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿895.0K
$23.4K RWF 34.4M
14.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Rwanda
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$61.3 ฿2,051
$86.8 RWF 127.5K
-29.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.50 ฿419
$7.85 RWF 11.5K
59.24%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.36 ฿682
$20.43 RWF 30.0K
-0.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Rwanda
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.94 ฿1,270
$30.34 RWF 44.6K
25.05%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.77 ฿126
$4.26 RWF 6,260
-11.50%
Cinema Ticket
$6.60 ฿221
$3.32 RWF 4,882
98.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Rwanda
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$774 ฿25.9K
$134 RWF 196.3K
479.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.4K ฿483.2K
$9,439 RWF 13.9M
52.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Rwanda
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.8 ฿1,835
$20.45 RWF 30.1K
167.97%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.26 ฿846
$17.15 RWF 25.2K
47.29%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.6 ฿3,032
$26.57 RWF 39.1K
240.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.3 ฿2,453
$35.32 RWF 51.9K
107.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Rwanda
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$459 ฿15.4K
$609 RWF 895.5K
-24.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$294 ฿9,835
$336 RWF 494.1K
-12.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$919 ฿30.8K
$1,274 RWF 1.9M
-27.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$552 ฿18.5K
$786 RWF 1.2M
-29.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,917 ฿64.2K
$3,308 RWF 4.9M
-42.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,445 ฿48.4K
$3,054 RWF 4.5M
-52.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Rwanda
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$592 ฿19.8K
$292 RWF 429.3K
102.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
16.2
-65.62%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: October 5, 2026
Last update for Rwanda: October 6, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai $294 31.8%
Rwanda $336 41.4% 14.4% $42
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai $236 25.6%
Rwanda $148 18.2% 37.4% $88
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai $110 11.9%
Rwanda $45 5.5% 59.2% $65
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai $94 10.2%
Rwanda $115 14.2% 22.2% $21
Eating Out
Chiang Mai $77 8.4%
Rwanda $88 10.8% 13.7% $11
Getting Around
Chiang Mai $61 6.6%
Rwanda $43 5.3% 29% $18
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai $51 5.5%
Rwanda $37 4.6% 27.7% $14
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai $552 29%
Rwanda $786 43.6% 42.3% $234
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai $529 27.8%
Rwanda $330 18.3% 37.6% $199
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai $244 12.8%
Rwanda $99 5.5% 59.2% $144
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai $107 5.6%
Rwanda $123 6.8% 15.3% $16
Eating Out
Chiang Mai $243 12.8%
Rwanda $298 16.5% 22.4% $54
Getting Around
Chiang Mai $123 6.5%
Rwanda $87 4.8% 29.5% $36
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai $106 5.6%
Rwanda $78 4.3% 26.2% $28
Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇷🇼 Rwanda
Weather
Population
127,240
13,246,394
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- Chiang Mai Rwanda 7,870 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
- Chiang Mai
- Rwanda
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 other spots: cost of living compared
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