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

🙂 Solo nomad: Kigali is 28.5% cheaper than Chiang Mai without rent, and 10.3% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Kigali is 27.6% cheaper than Chiang Mai without rent, and 11.2% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kigali
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.06 RWF 5,738
$2.02 ฿65.3
100.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.47 RWF 38.8K
$18.78 ฿608
46.27%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.71 RWF 9,468
$7.67 ฿248
-12.52%
Cappuccino
$2.25 RWF 3,176
$1.98 ฿64.2
13.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81 RWF 1,145
$0.82 ฿26.64
-1.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57 RWF 800
$0.33 ฿10.58
72.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.05 RWF 1,485
$2.12 ฿68.6
-50.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11 RWF 2,983
$3.73 ฿121
-43.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kigali
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.72 RWF 1,010
$1.64 ฿53.2
-56.10%
White Bread (500g)
$1.03 RWF 1,454
$1.57 ฿50.9
-34.39%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.29 RWF 1,815
$1.19 ฿38.62
8.40%
Eggs
$1.69 RWF 2,386
$1.98 ฿64.1
-14.65%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.99 RWF 5,631
$15.99 ฿517
-75.05%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.45 RWF 6,282
$3.12 ฿101
42.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$3.6 RWF 5,084
$11.16 ฿361
-67.74%
Apples (1kg)
$2.5 RWF 3,532
$2.76 ฿89.2
-9.42%
Banana (1kg)
$1.01 RWF 1,428
$1.22 ฿39.5
-17.21%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.42 RWF 2,000
$1.71 ฿55.4
-16.96%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.15 RWF 1,619
$1.55 ฿50.2
-25.81%
Potato (1kg)
$0.51 RWF 722
$1.34 ฿43.21
-61.94%
Onion (1kg)
$0.81 RWF 1,145
$1.21 ฿39.23
-33.06%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.51 RWF 716
$0.72 ฿23.2
-29.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82 RWF 1,152
$0.53 ฿17.05
54.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.77 RWF 2,494
$4.72 ฿153
-62.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.52 RWF 14.8K
$18.39 ฿595
-42.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 RWF 1,287
$1.79 ฿57.9
-49.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73 RWF 2,444
$3.21 ฿104
-46.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Kigali
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 RWF 514
$0.94 ฿30.44
-61.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.47 RWF 38.8K
$18.9 ฿612
45.34%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.1 RWF 4,369
$1.42 ฿46.08
118.31%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.44 RWF 2,026
$1.35 ฿43.53
6.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.86 RWF 5,442
$7.85 ฿254
-50.83%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.15 RWF 1,621
$1.25 ฿40.4
-8.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K RWF 37.8M
$21.2K ฿684.9K
26.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.9K RWF 42.2M
$21.8K ฿706.8K
36.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kigali
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$47.2 RWF 66.6K
$70.6 ฿2,285
-33.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.89 RWF 12.6K
$13.72 ฿444
-35.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.91 RWF 25.3K
$17.56 ฿568
1.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kigali
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$28.84 RWF 40.7K
$41.64 ฿1,347
-30.74%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.71 RWF 5,233
$6.9 ฿223
-46.23%
Cinema Ticket
$3.42 RWF 4,832
$5.8 ฿188
-41.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kigali
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$152 RWF 214.6K
$308 ฿9,963
-50.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,143 RWF 7.3M
$14.7K ฿475.8K
-65.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kigali
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$16.72 RWF 23.6K
$55.4 ฿1,793
-69.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.23 RWF 27.2K
$26.4 ฿854
-27.16%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$23.97 RWF 33.8K
$85.1 ฿2,755
-71.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$31.02 RWF 43.8K
$71.8 ฿2,323
-56.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kigali
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$576 RWF 812.7K
$434 ฿14K
32.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$361 RWF 510.3K
$235 ฿7,610
53.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,081 RWF 1.5M
$821 ฿26.6K
31.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$705 RWF 994.9K
$498 ฿16.1K
41.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,784 RWF 3.9M
$2,180 ฿70.6K
27.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,048 RWF 4.3M
$1,543 ฿49.9K
97.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kigali
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$270 RWF 381K
$703 ฿22.8K
-61.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
16.2
5
224.00%

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

Last update for Kigali: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

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