🙂A single person spends $309 per month in Kisii vs $950 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $442 per month in Kisii vs $1,430 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $576 per month in Kisii vs $1,909 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Kisii is about 67% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Kisii and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Kisii78% lower, Chiang Mai31% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kisii
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.67KES 345
$2.10฿69.0
27.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$19.84฿653
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
-
$5.79฿191
-
Cappuccino
$1.40KES 181
$1.83฿60.2
-23.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82KES 105
$0.78฿25.51
5.13%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.22KES 28.43
$0.31฿10.33
-29.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.83KES 236
$2.34฿76.9
-21.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34KES 302
$3.70฿122
-36.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kisii
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.88KES 114
$2.03฿66.8
-56.65%
White Bread(500g)
$0.48KES 62.1
$1.60฿52.5
-70.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.34KES 302
$1.42฿46.57
64.79%
Eggs
$1.83KES 236
$2.18฿71.6
-16.06%
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$15.91฿523
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
-
$3.07฿101
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.56KES 590
$9.87฿325
-53.80%
Apples(1kg)
-
$2.63฿86.4
-
Banana(1kg)
-
$1.10฿36.05
-
Oranges(1kg)
-
$1.63฿53.6
-
Tomato(1kg)
-
$1.53฿50.4
-
Potato(1kg)
-
$1.24฿40.97
-
Onion(1kg)
-
$1.13฿37.22
-
Lettuce(1 head)
-
$0.74฿24.29
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.50฿16.42
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.28฿141
-
Wine(Bottle)
-
$17.97฿591
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.96KES 253
$1.70฿55.9
15.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.90฿95.3
-
🚌 Getting Around
Kisii
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.41KES 52.8
$0.94฿31.00
-56.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$15.66KES 2,026
$55.3฿1,820
-71.68%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.75KES 96.4
$1.23฿40.60
-39.02%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$0.53฿17.59
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$2.40฿79.0
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.55KES 201
$1.44฿47.37
7.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$21.2K฿697.5K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$11.4KKES 1.5M
$27.3K฿898.6K
-58.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kisii
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$64.9฿2,137
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.47KES 2,131
$13.35฿439
23.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.35KES 6,383
$20.83฿686
136.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kisii
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$40.42฿1,330
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.95฿130
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$6.71฿221
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kisii
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$38.45KES 4,973
$787฿25.9K
-95.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$15.1K฿497.7K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kisii
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$11.39KES 1,473
$56.2฿1,850
-79.74%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$24.95฿821
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$39.25KES 5,076
$92.7฿3,051
-57.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$30.78KES 3,981
$75.1฿2,472
-59.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kisii
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$484฿15.9K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$78.2KES 10.1K
$287฿9,454
-72.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$910฿29.9K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$157KES 20.3K
$531฿17.5K
-70.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,980฿65.2K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,451฿47.8K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kisii
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$605฿19.9K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
5.57
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kisii: September 5, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026
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
Kisii vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kisii or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 207% more than Kisii, 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 Kisii and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $464 per month in Kisii and $1,426 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How expensive is transport in Kisii compared to Chiang Mai?
Public transport costs about 253% less in Kisii. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Are groceries more expensive in Kisii or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 351% 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 $1,000/month in Kisii or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kisii, where all-in costs run around $309, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Kisii 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, Kisii or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kisii costs $309 versus $950 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Kisii 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 Kisii or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Kisii. 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.