Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Kairouan and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Kairouan: $634 a month against $936 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $3,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Kairouan, Tunisia
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Kairouan
🇹🇳 Tunisia
$634
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$936
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

A single person spends $634 per month in Kairouan vs $936 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Kairouan $634
  • Chiang Mai $936

A couple spends around $975 per month in Kairouan vs $1,457 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Kairouan $975
  • Chiang Mai $1,457

A family of three spends $1,315 per month in Kairouan vs $1,979 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Kairouan $1,315
  • Chiang Mai $1,979

Kairouan is about 32% cheaper than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Kairouan and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Kairouan 53% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kairouan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.71 TND 8.14
$2.24 ฿75.6
20.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.14 TND 48.49
$19.00 ฿641
-15.05%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.10 TND 18.33
$5.55 ฿187
9.91%
Cappuccino
$0.98 TND 2.95
$1.67 ฿56.5
-41.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 TND 2.56
$0.64 ฿21.54
32.81%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 TND 1.05
$0.31 ฿10.31
12.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.71 TND 5.14
$2.36 ฿79.5
-27.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65 TND 7.96
$3.66 ฿124
-27.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kairouan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.49 TND 1.48
$1.95 ฿65.7
-74.87%
White Bread (500g)
$0.09 TND 0.27
$1.44 ฿48.46
-93.75%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.72 TND 5.16
$1.33 ฿45.03
29.32%
Eggs
$1.52 TND 4.58
$2.28 ฿77.1
-33.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.89 TND 29.70
$16.45 ฿555
-39.88%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.52 TND 16.57
$2.78 ฿93.9
98.56%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.96 TND 35.93
$9.31 ฿314
28.46%
Apples (1kg)
$2.14 TND 6.44
$2.35 ฿79.4
-8.94%
Banana (1kg)
$2.27 TND 6.83
$0.97 ฿32.79
134.02%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.16 TND 3.48
$1.60 ฿53.9
-27.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.81 TND 2.44
$1.50 ฿50.6
-46.00%
Potato (1kg)
$0.65 TND 1.94
$1.28 ฿43.11
-49.22%
Onion (1kg)
$0.64 TND 1.93
$1.10 ฿37.18
-41.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.50 TND 1.49
$0.71 ฿23.82
-29.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.24 TND 0.72
$0.49 ฿16.36
-51.02%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.33 TND 9.99
$4.14 ฿140
-19.57%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.74 TND 20.26
$17.52 ฿591
-61.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23 TND 3.69
$1.61 ฿54.5
-23.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46 TND 4.37
$2.78 ฿93.9
-47.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Kairouan
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.33 TND 0.98
$0.87 ฿29.30
-62.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.96 TND 29.93
$54.1 ฿1,825
-81.59%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.29 TND 0.87
$1.16 ฿39.04
-75.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.31 TND 0.94
$0.53 ฿17.80
-41.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.78 TND 5.36
$2.42 ฿81.7
-26.45%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.77 TND 2.32
$1.45 ฿48.88
-46.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.9K TND 116.8K
$21.1K ฿710.5K
84.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.5K TND 109.8K
$26.9K ฿909.0K
35.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kairouan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$59.9 TND 180
$62.2 ฿2,098
-3.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.65 TND 25.99
$12.17 ฿411
-28.92%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.80 TND 59.5
$20.12 ฿679
-1.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kairouan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.85 TND 71.7
$37.31 ฿1,259
-36.08%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.24 TND 36.78
$3.77 ฿127
224.67%
Cinema Ticket
$4.78 TND 14.35
$6.49 ฿219
-26.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kairouan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$106 TND 319
$736 ฿24.8K
-85.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,181 TND 9,558
$14.8K ฿498.2K
-78.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kairouan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$23.41 TND 70.4
$53.4 ฿1,801
-56.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.7 TND 185
$24.64 ฿831
150.32%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$46.11 TND 139
$91.5 ฿3,087
-49.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.3 TND 253
$71.9 ฿2,427
17.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kairouan
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$118 TND 355
$482 ฿16.3K
-75.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$156 TND 470
$309 ฿10.4K
-49.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$366 TND 1,099
$1,006 ฿33.9K
-63.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$269 TND 808
$633 ฿21.4K
-57.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$963 TND 2,893
$2,363 ฿79.7K
-59.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$621 TND 1,864
$1,589 ฿53.6K
-60.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kairouan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$328 TND 986
$590 ฿19.9K
-44.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.65
5.57
91.20%

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

Last update for Kairouan: October 24, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Kairouan
$176
Chiang Mai
$234 33.5% $59
Accommodation & Living
Kairouan
$156
Chiang Mai
$309 97.5% $153
Clothing & Footwear
Kairouan
$97
Chiang Mai
$109 12% $12
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kairouan
$88
Chiang Mai
$94 6.9% $6.1
Eating Out
Kairouan
$70
Chiang Mai
$78 10.1% $7.1
Sport & Entertainment
Kairouan
$33
Chiang Mai
$50 50.5% $17
Getting Around
Kairouan
$13
Chiang Mai
$61 367% $48

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $118 in Kairouan versus $482 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 80% higher in Chiang Mai. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $16 in Kairouan versus $19 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $176 vs $234 – making Kairouan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇳 Kairouan
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
02:08 2:08 AM
08:08 8:08 AM
6 h ahead of Kairouan
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
139,070
127,240
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to TND – Tunisian Dinar Converter

Tunisian Dinar exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 3 TND (1 TND = 0.333 USD). 1 EUR = 3.35 TND (1 TND = 0.298 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 33.74 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.67 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Kairouan Chiang Mai 8,710 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Kairouan
  • Chiang Mai

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
Kairouan vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kairouan or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 48% more than Kairouan, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. 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 and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $951 per month in Kairouan and $1,403 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $118 there versus $482 in Chiang Mai.
How do childcare costs compare in Kairouan and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $106 per month in Kairouan and $736 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 in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 34% more in Chiang Mai, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $1,200/month in Kairouan or in Chiang Mai?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $634 in Kairouan and $936 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Kairouan – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How safe is Kairouan compared to Chiang Mai?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
Should I move to Kairouan or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Kairouan. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Kairouan vs other spots: cost of living compared

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