🙂A single person spends $601 per month in Nanyuki vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $999 per month in Nanyuki vs $1,360 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,398 per month in Nanyuki vs $1,867 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Nanyuki is about 30% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Nanyuki and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Nanyuki55% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nanyuki
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.76KES 486
$2.04฿68.2
84.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.02KES 4,009
$18.71฿624
65.79%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.91KES 893
$7.86฿262
-12.09%
Cappuccino
$1.82KES 236
$2.03฿67.7
-10.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70KES 90.0
$0.80฿26.64
-12.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53KES 69.1
$0.35฿11.68
51.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.28KES 295
$2.14฿71.5
6.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98KES 385
$3.67฿122
-18.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nanyuki
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.91KES 118
$1.73฿57.6
-47.40%
White Bread(500g)
$0.52KES 67.9
$1.57฿52.4
-66.88%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.14KES 148
$1.20฿39.99
-5.00%
Eggs
$1.60KES 206
$1.97฿65.8
-18.78%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.59KES 1,498
$16.23฿541
-28.59%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.70KES 866
$3.06฿102
118.95%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$3.98KES 514
$10.80฿360
-63.15%
Apples(1kg)
$3.13KES 404
$2.77฿92.3
13.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.05KES 135
$1.17฿38.94
-10.26%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.09KES 270
$1.71฿57.0
22.22%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.00KES 130
$1.59฿53.2
-37.11%
Potato(1kg)
$1.04KES 134
$1.39฿46.51
-25.18%
Onion(1kg)
$1.11KES 143
$1.16฿38.56
-4.31%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.70KES 90.3
$0.66฿22.05
6.06%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81KES 105
$0.52฿17.31
55.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.65KES 342
$4.65฿155
-43.01%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.36KES 1,468
$17.78฿593
-36.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.94KES 251
$1.79฿59.6
8.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97KES 254
$3.34฿111
-41.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Nanyuki
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.37KES 48.26
$0.91฿30.27
-59.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$18.64฿622
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.59KES 206
$1.41฿47.04
12.77%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.51KES 196
$1.34฿44.70
12.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.91KES 376
$8.11฿270
-64.12%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.20KES 156
$1.23฿41.16
-2.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.3KKES 2.7M
$21.4K฿715.1K
-0.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.8KKES 2.6M
$21.8K฿728.0K
-9.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nanyuki
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$34.63KES 4,477
$71.3฿2,379
-51.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.80KES 2,171
$14.01฿467
19.91%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.94KES 5,033
$17.93฿598
117.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nanyuki
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.9KES 7,094
$40.82฿1,362
34.44%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.88฿230
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.28KES 811
$5.72฿191
9.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nanyuki
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$65.5KES 8,465
$308฿10.3K
-78.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,838KES 1.0M
$14.7K฿489.7K
-46.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nanyuki
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$18.57KES 2,401
$55.8฿1,860
-66.70%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.15KES 3,122
$26.04฿869
-7.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$66.0KES 8,536
$84.8฿2,829
-22.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$56.9KES 7,357
$71.0฿2,368
-19.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nanyuki
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$98.5KES 12.7K
$423฿14.1K
-76.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$79.1KES 10.2K
$242฿8,088
-67.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$333KES 43.0K
$797฿26.6K
-58.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$212KES 27.4K
$507฿16.9K
-58.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,918฿64.0K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,464฿48.8K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nanyuki
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$115KES 14.8K
$595฿19.9K
-80.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
14.84
5
196.80%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Nanyuki: July 26, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $98.5 in Nanyuki 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 419% 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 $31.00 in Nanyuki versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $195 in Nanyuki vs $244 in Chiang Mai – so Nanyuki wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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
Nanyuki vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Nanyuki or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 42% more than Nanyuki, 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 Nanyuki and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $901 per month in Nanyuki 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, Nanyuki or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Nanyuki, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Nanyuki and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $31.00 in Nanyuki and $19.00 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 Nanyuki or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 25% 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 $800/month in Nanyuki or in Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $601 in Nanyuki and $852 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Nanyuki or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Nanyuki costs $601 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 Nanyuki 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 Nanyuki or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Nanyuki. 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.