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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $564 per month in Kairouan vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $893 per month in Kairouan vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,222 per month in Kairouan vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Kairouan is about 34% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Kairouan and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Kairouan 58% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kairouan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.34 TND 6.76
$1.96 ฿64.0
19.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$8.65 TND 24.99
$18.81 ฿615
-54.01%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.32 TND 9.60
$7.92 ฿259
-58.08%
Cappuccino
$0.71 TND 2.05
$1.91 ฿62.6
-62.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60 TND 1.73
$0.84 ฿27.41
-28.57%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.14 TND 0.41
$0.35 ฿11.51
-60.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.49 TND 4.30
$2.21 ฿72.1
-32.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92 TND 5.56
$3.80 ฿124
-49.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kairouan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.45 TND 1.29
$1.64 ฿53.5
-72.56%
White Bread (500g)
$0.07 TND 0.20
$1.62 ฿53.1
-95.68%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.48 TND 4.27
$1.18 ฿38.62
25.42%
Eggs
$1.55 TND 4.47
$2.01 ฿65.8
-22.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.47 TND 33.14
$15.89 ฿520
-27.82%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.54 TND 16.02
$3.01 ฿98.5
84.05%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.75 TND 33.95
$10.77 ฿352
9.10%
Apples (1kg)
$2.21 TND 6.39
$2.61 ฿85.5
-15.33%
Banana (1kg)
$2.24 TND 6.47
$1.22 ฿39.88
83.61%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.01 TND 2.92
$1.70 ฿55.7
-40.59%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.74 TND 2.14
$1.58 ฿51.5
-53.16%
Potato (1kg)
$0.69 TND 2.00
$1.32 ฿43.14
-47.73%
Onion (1kg)
$0.78 TND 2.24
$1.17 ฿38.23
-33.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.48 TND 1.38
$0.67 ฿21.98
-28.36%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.25 TND 0.72
$0.56 ฿18.32
-55.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.46 TND 9.99
$4.53 ฿148
-23.62%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.55 TND 21.83
$18.20 ฿595
-58.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14 TND 3.30
$1.83 ฿60.0
-37.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11 TND 3.20
$3.23 ฿106
-65.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Kairouan
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.32 TND 0.93
$0.89 ฿29.00
-64.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.24 TND 29.59
$19.38 ฿634
-47.16%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.31 TND 0.90
$1.35 ฿44.20
-77.04%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.33 TND 0.96
$1.35 ฿44.05
-75.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.62 TND 22.01
$8.25 ฿270
-7.64%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.76 TND 2.19
$1.27 ฿41.64
-40.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K TND 102.1K
$21.2K ฿691.8K
67.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.0K TND 101.1K
$22.5K ฿735.3K
55.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kairouan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$46.52 TND 134
$70.2 ฿2,294
-33.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.71 TND 28.06
$13.77 ฿450
-29.48%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.99 TND 43.32
$17.60 ฿575
-14.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kairouan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.44 TND 67.7
$41.57 ฿1,360
-43.61%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.84 TND 37.11
$6.60 ฿216
94.55%
Cinema Ticket
$4.66 TND 13.46
$5.78 ฿189
-19.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kairouan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$110 TND 318
$306 ฿10.0K
-64.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,464 TND 7,120
$14.8K ฿484.8K
-83.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kairouan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$23.79 TND 68.8
$54.4 ฿1,778
-56.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.78 TND 127
$26.14 ฿855
67.48%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$48.30 TND 140
$84.5 ฿2,764
-42.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$64.6 TND 187
$69.4 ฿2,270
-7.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kairouan
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$116 TND 335
$424 ฿13.9K
-72.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$133 TND 385
$238 ฿7,788
-44.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$377 TND 1,089
$825 ฿27.0K
-54.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$269 TND 778
$515 ฿16.8K
-47.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,049 ฿67.0K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,523 ฿49.8K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kairouan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$334 TND 965
$635 ฿20.8K
-47.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.6
5
172.00%

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

Last update for Kairouan: April 27, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $116 in Kairouan versus $424 in Chiang Mai. 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 90% 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 $9.00 in Kairouan versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $178 vs $243 – making Kairouan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Kairouan vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kairouan or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 51% more than Kairouan, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Kairouan vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $846 per month in Kairouan and $1,278 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Kairouan or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kairouan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Kairouan and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $110 per month in Kairouan and $306 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Kairouan or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 36% 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.
Can you live on $1,200/month in Kairouan or Chiang Mai?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $564 in Kairouan and $852 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Kairouan or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kairouan costs $564 versus $852 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Kairouan compared to Chiang Mai?
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.
Should I move to Kairouan or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Kairouan. 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.

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