🙂A single person spends $565 per month in Kairouan vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $885 per month in Kairouan vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,205 per month in Kairouan vs $1,855 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Kairouan is about 35% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Kairouan and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Kairouan58% lower, Chiang Mai35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kairouan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.31TND 6.73
$1.98฿64.3
16.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$8.61TND 25.12
$18.80฿612
-54.20%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.49TND 10.18
$7.75฿252
-54.97%
Cappuccino
$0.76TND 2.22
$1.92฿62.5
-60.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65TND 1.88
$0.79฿25.79
-17.72%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.16TND 0.45
$0.36฿11.62
-55.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.55TND 4.52
$2.21฿72.1
-29.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90TND 5.54
$3.66฿119
-48.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kairouan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.49TND 1.43
$1.65฿53.8
-70.30%
White Bread(500g)
$0.07TND 0.20
$1.63฿53.2
-95.71%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.51TND 4.39
$1.19฿38.86
26.89%
Eggs
$1.56TND 4.55
$2.00฿65.1
-22.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.33TND 33.06
$15.98฿520
-29.10%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.61TND 16.35
$3.03฿98.5
85.15%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.88TND 34.65
$10.86฿354
9.39%
Apples(1kg)
$2.17TND 6.33
$2.76฿90.0
-21.38%
Banana(1kg)
$2.31TND 6.74
$1.18฿38.42
95.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.06TND 3.08
$1.64฿53.5
-35.37%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.68TND 1.99
$1.52฿49.51
-55.26%
Potato(1kg)
$0.66TND 1.93
$1.38฿45.10
-52.17%
Onion(1kg)
$0.76TND 2.21
$1.19฿38.84
-36.13%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.48TND 1.41
$0.70฿22.86
-31.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.25TND 0.73
$0.56฿18.13
-55.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.46TND 10.08
$4.58฿149
-24.45%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.69TND 22.44
$16.56฿539
-53.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.10TND 3.22
$1.83฿59.5
-39.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10TND 3.21
$3.20฿104
-65.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Kairouan
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.33TND 0.96
$0.88฿28.56
-62.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.14TND 29.58
$18.72฿610
-45.83%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.31TND 0.91
$1.36฿44.16
-77.21%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31TND 0.90
$1.34฿43.65
-76.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.54TND 22.00
$7.84฿256
-3.83%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.81TND 2.36
$1.23฿39.92
-34.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.7KTND 104.2K
$21.6K฿704.3K
65.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.0KTND 102.2K
$22.5K฿734.3K
55.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kairouan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$44.74TND 131
$70.5฿2,298
-36.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.56TND 27.88
$13.68฿445
-30.12%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.54TND 42.41
$17.45฿568
-16.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kairouan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$24.12TND 70.4
$41.33฿1,346
-41.64%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.59TND 36.72
$6.96฿227
80.89%
Cinema Ticket
$4.65TND 13.57
$5.77฿188
-19.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kairouan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$107TND 313
$307฿10.0K
-65.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,445TND 7,132
$14.6K฿475.9K
-83.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kairouan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$23.49TND 68.5
$55.8฿1,817
-57.90%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.61TND 130
$26.21฿854
70.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$48.02TND 140
$85.8฿2,793
-44.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$66.1TND 193
$72.2฿2,353
-8.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kairouan
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$117TND 342
$430฿14.0K
-72.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$133TND 388
$239฿7,774
-44.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$376TND 1,096
$817฿26.6K
-54.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$274TND 800
$511฿16.6K
-46.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,983฿64.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,484฿48.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kairouan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$339TND 988
$619฿20.2K
-45.30%
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: June 8, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $117 in Kairouan versus $430 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 83% 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: $179 vs $241 – 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 54% 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 $848 per month in Kairouan and $1,303 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 $107 per month in Kairouan and $307 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 34% 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 $565 in Kairouan and $869 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 $565 versus $869 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.