🙂A single person spends $562 per month in Kairouan vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $869 per month in Kairouan vs $1,360 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,176 per month in Kairouan vs $1,867 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 – Kairouan58% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kairouan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.39TND 7.01
$2.04฿68.2
17.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$8.64TND 25.36
$18.71฿624
-53.82%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.33TND 9.77
$7.86฿262
-57.63%
Cappuccino
$0.77TND 2.25
$2.03฿67.7
-62.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61TND 1.78
$0.80฿26.64
-23.75%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.13TND 0.38
$0.35฿11.68
-62.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.49TND 4.38
$2.14฿71.5
-30.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91TND 5.60
$3.67฿122
-47.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kairouan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.49TND 1.45
$1.73฿57.6
-71.68%
White Bread(500g)
$0.08TND 0.23
$1.57฿52.4
-94.90%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.55TND 4.55
$1.20฿39.99
29.17%
Eggs
$1.50TND 4.39
$1.97฿65.8
-23.86%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.35TND 33.31
$16.23฿541
-30.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.61TND 16.47
$3.06฿102
83.33%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.94TND 35.03
$10.80฿360
10.56%
Apples(1kg)
$2.18TND 6.39
$2.77฿92.3
-21.30%
Banana(1kg)
$2.30TND 6.76
$1.17฿38.94
96.58%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.00TND 2.94
$1.71฿57.0
-41.52%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.74TND 2.16
$1.59฿53.2
-53.46%
Potato(1kg)
$0.69TND 2.03
$1.39฿46.51
-50.36%
Onion(1kg)
$0.73TND 2.13
$1.16฿38.56
-37.07%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.49TND 1.42
$0.66฿22.05
-25.76%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.27TND 0.80
$0.52฿17.31
-48.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.35TND 9.84
$4.65฿155
-27.96%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.63TND 19.47
$17.78฿593
-62.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14TND 3.35
$1.79฿59.6
-36.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.07TND 3.14
$3.34฿111
-67.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Kairouan
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.33TND 0.97
$0.91฿30.27
-63.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.13TND 29.74
$18.64฿622
-45.65%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.31TND 0.92
$1.41฿47.04
-78.01%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.33TND 0.98
$1.34฿44.70
-75.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.38TND 21.66
$8.11฿270
-9.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.79TND 2.31
$1.23฿41.16
-35.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.3KTND 106.4K
$21.4K฿715.1K
69.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5KTND 101.2K
$21.8K฿728.0K
58.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kairouan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$46.19TND 136
$71.3฿2,379
-35.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.78TND 28.71
$14.01฿467
-30.19%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.61TND 42.88
$17.93฿598
-18.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kairouan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.96TND 70.3
$40.82฿1,362
-41.30%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.48TND 36.61
$6.88฿230
81.40%
Cinema Ticket
$4.63TND 13.58
$5.72฿191
-19.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kairouan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$107TND 313
$308฿10.3K
-65.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,475TND 7,263
$14.7K฿489.7K
-83.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kairouan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$23.83TND 69.9
$55.8฿1,860
-57.27%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.37TND 130
$26.04฿869
70.39%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$47.47TND 139
$84.8฿2,829
-44.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$63.8TND 187
$71.0฿2,368
-10.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kairouan
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$115TND 339
$423฿14.1K
-72.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$134TND 392
$242฿8,088
-44.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$373TND 1,093
$797฿26.6K
-53.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$274TND 803
$507฿16.9K
-45.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$968TND 2,842
$1,918฿64.0K
-49.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$568TND 1,668
$1,464฿48.8K
-61.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kairouan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$326TND 956
$595฿19.9K
-45.24%
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: July 26, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $115 in Kairouan versus $423 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: $178 vs $244 – 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 52% 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 and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $842 per month in Kairouan and $1,279 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 in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $107 per month in Kairouan and $308 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 37% 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 in Chiang Mai?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $562 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 $562 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 to 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.