🙂A single person spends $494 per month in Kericho vs $932 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $778 per month in Kericho vs $1,399 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,061 per month in Kericho vs $1,866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Kericho is about 47% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Kericho and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Kericho64% lower, Chiang Mai32% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kericho
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.39KES 309
$2.08฿69.2
14.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.45KES 2,646
$19.61฿652
4.28%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.33KES 819
$5.67฿189
11.64%
Cappuccino
$2.71KES 351
$1.81฿60.0
49.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37KES 48.51
$0.77฿25.55
-51.95%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60KES 77.1
$0.35฿11.48
71.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.35KES 304
$2.21฿73.6
6.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.22KES 158
$3.79฿126
-67.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kericho
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.59KES 76.7
$2.05฿68.1
-71.22%
White Bread(500g)
$0.47KES 61.1
$1.51฿50.4
-68.87%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.25KES 162
$1.40฿46.51
-10.71%
Eggs
$1.65KES 213
$2.26฿75.1
-26.99%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.73KES 1,388
$16.19฿538
-33.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.51KES 842
$2.90฿96.3
124.48%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.06KES 526
$9.42฿313
-56.90%
Apples(1kg)
$3.30KES 427
$2.68฿89.1
23.13%
Banana(1kg)
$1.03KES 133
$1.09฿36.23
-5.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.05KES 265
$1.62฿53.8
26.54%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.09KES 141
$1.46฿48.55
-25.34%
Potato(1kg)
$0.68KES 87.8
$1.28฿42.48
-46.88%
Onion(1kg)
$0.71KES 92.4
$1.06฿35.17
-33.02%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.30KES 38.72
$0.72฿23.85
-58.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.65KES 83.5
$0.53฿17.49
22.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.45KES 446
$4.23฿141
-18.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.69KES 1,513
$18.29฿608
-36.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.22KES 287
$1.63฿54.2
36.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84KES 367
$2.90฿96.5
-2.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Kericho
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.88฿29.20
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$53.8฿1,788
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.51KES 195
$1.17฿38.99
29.06%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.57KES 203
$0.58฿19.22
170.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.83KES 366
$2.39฿79.3
18.41%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.60KES 207
$1.45฿48.22
10.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.0KKES 2.8M
$21.0K฿698.6K
4.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5KKES 2.7M
$26.4K฿878.6K
-22.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kericho
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$61.0KES 7,897
$63.7฿2,116
-4.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.96KES 2,065
$12.89฿429
23.82%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.45KES 4,587
$20.52฿682
72.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kericho
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$39.02฿1,297
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.92฿130
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.60KES 984
$6.58฿219
15.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kericho
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$252KES 32.6K
$784฿26.1K
-67.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.4KKES 1.5M
$14.7K฿487.9K
-22.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kericho
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$28.36KES 3,670
$55.1฿1,833
-48.54%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.65KES 3,578
$24.74฿823
11.76%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$69.5KES 8,998
$94.1฿3,130
-26.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$57.6KES 7,453
$74.0฿2,459
-22.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kericho
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$490฿16.3K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$288฿9,582
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$891฿29.6K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$521฿17.3K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,974฿65.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,444฿48.0K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kericho
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$602฿20.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
14.71
5.57
164.09%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kericho: September 14, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Kericho versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $241 – making Kericho 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
Kericho vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kericho or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 89% more than Kericho, 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 Kericho and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $741 per month in Kericho and $1,398 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do dining costs compare in Kericho and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Kericho and $20.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Kericho or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 28% 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 $2,000/month in Kericho or in Chiang Mai?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Kericho, where all-in costs run around $494, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Kericho it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Kericho or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kericho costs $494 versus $932 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Kericho 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 Kericho or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Kericho. 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.