Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Bulawayo

For one person, living is cheaper in Bulawayo: $747 a month against $936 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $2,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index
36

Cost of Living Index in Bulawayo
Learn more

Bulawayo Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$936

/mo nomad

Bulawayo

🇿🇼 Zimbabwe

$747

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Bulawayo

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Bulawayo actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $747 in Bulawayo, rent included.

Chiang Mai $936
Bulawayo $747

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,194 in Bulawayo, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,457
Bulawayo $1,194

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,642 in Bulawayo, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,979
Bulawayo $1,642

Chiang Mai costs about 25% more than Bulawayo, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Bulawayo are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Bulawayo 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.24 ฿75.6

$4.37 ZWL 116

-48.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.00 ฿641

$29.90 ZWL 795

-36.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.55 ฿187

$5.10 ZWL 136

8.82%

Cappuccino

$1.67 ฿56.5

$2.14 ZWL 56.8

-21.96%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.64 ฿21.55

$0.52 ZWL 13.79

23.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.31

$0.36 ZWL 9.59

-13.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 ฿79.6

$1.46 ZWL 38.92

61.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿124

$1.97 ZWL 52.3

85.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ฿65.8

$1.63 ZWL 43.27

19.63%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ฿48.48

$0.98 ZWL 26.05

46.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 ฿45.04

$1.55 ZWL 41.16

-14.19%

Eggs

$2.28 ฿77.1

$1.86 ZWL 49.36

22.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.45 ฿555

$9.42 ZWL 250

74.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.78 ฿93.9

$3.82 ZWL 102

-27.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.31 ฿314

$4.60 ZWL 122

102.39%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 ฿79.4

$1.80 ZWL 47.79

30.56%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 ฿32.80

$1.55 ZWL 41.15

-37.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 ฿53.9

$2.40 ZWL 63.8

-33.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.6

$1.04 ZWL 27.65

44.23%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿43.12

$1.26 ZWL 33.50

1.59%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿37.19

$1.44 ZWL 38.16

-23.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿23.82

$1.10 ZWL 29.27

-35.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.37

$0.77 ZWL 20.45

-36.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 ฿140

$1.51 ZWL 40.16

174.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.52 ฿591

$5.02 ZWL 133

249.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 ฿54.5

$1.36 ZWL 36.09

18.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿94.0

$1.83 ZWL 48.67

51.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ฿29.31

$0.72 ZWL 19.06

20.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.1 ฿1,826

$29.51 ZWL 784

83.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 ฿39.06

$3.06 ZWL 81.2

-62.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.80

$1.98 ZWL 52.6

-73.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿81.8

$5.03 ZWL 134

-51.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.90

$1.69 ZWL 44.95

-14.20%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.1K ฿710.7K

$25.1K ZWL 667.3K

-16.15%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.9K ฿909.3K

$25.4K ZWL 674.8K

6.08%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$62.2 ฿2,098

$93.0 ZWL 2,472

-33.18%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$12.17 ฿411

$17.52 ZWL 466

-30.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ฿679

$107 ZWL 2,831

-81.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.31 ฿1,259

$30.99 ZWL 823

20.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿127

$20.38 ZWL 542

-81.50%

Cinema Ticket

$6.49 ฿219

$10.09 ZWL 268

-35.68%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$736 ฿24.8K

$228 ZWL 6,051

223.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿498.3K

$3,484 ZWL 92.6K

323.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 ฿1,801

$20.95 ZWL 557

154.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.64 ฿831

$11.80 ZWL 314

108.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.5 ฿3,087

$46.98 ZWL 1,248

94.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.9 ฿2,428

$57.8 ZWL 1,536

24.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.3K

$172 ZWL 4,573

180.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 ฿10.4K

$106 ZWL 2,803

192.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 ฿33.9K

$406 ZWL 10.8K

147.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$633 ฿21.4K

$323 ZWL 8,574

96.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,363 ฿79.8K

$2,061 ZWL 54.8K

14.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,589 ฿53.6K

$2,031 ZWL 54.0K

-21.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$590 ฿19.9K

$303 ZWL 8,056

94.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-62.87%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Last update for Bulawayo: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$309 33%

Bulawayo

$106 14.1% 65.8% $203

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$234 25.1%

Bulawayo

$175 23.4% 25.4% $60

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$109 11.6%

Bulawayo

$62 8.3% 43% $47

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Bulawayo

$217 29.1% 130% $123

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$78 8.3%

Bulawayo

$91 12.2% 16.9% $13

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Bulawayo

$45 6.1% 26.1% $16

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Bulawayo

$51 6.9% 1.8% $0.9

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Chiang Mai versus $172 in Bulawayo. 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 95% higher in Chiang Mai. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $30 in Bulawayo. Groceries tell a different story – $234 in Chiang Mai vs $175 in Bulawayo – so Bulawayo wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇿🇼 Bulawayo

🕒 Local time

13:20 1:20 PM

08:20 8:20 AM

5 h behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

653,337

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Zimbabwean Dollar ZWL $

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.65 EUR

100 ZWL = 3.76 USD

100 ZWL = 3.37 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

ZWL, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 33.75 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.68 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

Zimbabwean Dollar exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 26.57 ZWL (100 ZWL = 3.76 USD). 1 EUR = 29.67 ZWL (100 ZWL = 3.37 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai Bulawayo 8,810 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Bulawayo

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

Chiang Mai vs Bulawayo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Chiang Mai is pricier by about 25%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,120 in Bulawayo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bulawayo, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $172 there versus $482 in Chiang Mai.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $936 in Chiang Mai and $747 in Bulawayo. That makes Bulawayo about 20% cheaper.

Public transport costs about 45% less in Bulawayo. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Families tend to lean toward Bulawayo – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Bulawayo. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.