Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Chingola

For one person, living is cheaper in Chingola: $421 a month against $936 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $6,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

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Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$936

/mo nomad

Chingola

🇿🇲 Zambia

$421

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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 Chingola actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $421 in Chingola, rent included.

Chiang Mai $936
Chingola $421

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $715 in Chingola, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,457
Chingola $715

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,010 in Chingola, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,979
Chingola $1,010

Chiang Mai costs about 122% more than Chingola, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Chingola are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Chingola 69% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.24 ฿75.6

$14.78 ZMW 298

-84.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.00 ฿641

$24.36 ZMW 491

-22.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.55 ฿187

Cappuccino

$1.67 ฿56.5

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

$0.64 ฿21.55

$0.49 ZMW 9.85

30.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.31

$0.34 ZMW 6.83

-8.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 ฿79.6

$0.57 ZMW 11.53

314.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿124

$1.21 ZMW 24.32

202.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ฿65.8

$1.72 ZMW 34.68

13.37%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ฿48.48

$1.15 ZMW 23.12

25.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 ฿45.04

$2.42 ZMW 48.65

-45.04%

Eggs

$2.28 ฿77.1

$1.82 ZMW 36.58

25.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.45 ฿555

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.78 ฿93.9

$5.19 ZMW 105

-46.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.31 ฿314

$4.36 ZMW 87.9

113.53%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 ฿79.4

$2.03 ZMW 40.79

15.76%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 ฿32.80

$1.96 ZMW 39.43

-50.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 ฿53.9

$2.03 ZMW 40.87

-21.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.6

$1.97 ZMW 39.69

-23.86%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿43.12

$2.89 ZMW 58.2

-55.71%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿37.19

$1.47 ZMW 29.61

-25.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿23.82

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.37

$0.81 ZMW 16.37

-39.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 ฿140

$1.46 ZMW 29.47

183.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.52 ฿591

$4.90 ZMW 98.7

257.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 ฿54.5

$0.63 ZMW 12.68

155.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿94.0

$0.72 ZMW 14.53

286.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ฿29.31

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.1 ฿1,826

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 ฿39.06

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.80

$0.58 ZMW 11.59

-8.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿81.8

$9.86 ZMW 198

-75.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.90

$1.32 ZMW 26.67

9.85%

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

$21.1K ฿710.7K

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

$26.9K ฿909.3K

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

$62.2 ฿2,098

$50.6 ZMW 1,019

22.82%

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

$12.17 ฿411

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ฿679

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.31 ฿1,259

$9.87 ZMW 199

278.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿127

Cinema Ticket

$6.49 ฿219

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

$736 ฿24.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿498.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 ฿1,801

$20.03 ZMW 403

166.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.64 ฿831

$12.37 ZMW 249

99.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.5 ฿3,087

$49.22 ZMW 991

85.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.9 ฿2,428

$74.4 ZMW 1,498

-3.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 ฿10.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 ฿33.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$633 ฿21.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,363 ฿79.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,589 ฿53.6K

$14.6K ZMW 294.7K

-89.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$590 ฿19.9K

$108 ZMW 2,177

445.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Last update for Chingola: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$309 33%

Chingola

–

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$234 25.1%

Chingola

–

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$109 11.6%

Chingola

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Chingola

–

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$78 8.3%

Chingola

–

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Chingola

–

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Chingola

–

Cost Breakdown

Salaries in Chiang Mai are about 5.5 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $24 in Chingola. Groceries tell a different story – $234 in Chiang Mai vs $160 in Chingola – so Chingola wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇿🇲 Chingola

🕒 Local time

17:41 5:41 PM

12:41 12:41 PM

5 h behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

210,073

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Zambian Kwacha ZMW ZK

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

100 ZMW = 4.97 USD

100 ZMW = 4.45 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

ZMW, 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 = 37.66 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Zambian Kwacha exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 20.14 ZMW (100 ZMW = 4.97 USD). 1 EUR = 22.48 ZMW (100 ZMW = 4.45 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai Chingola 8,540 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Chingola

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 Chingola: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 122% more than Chingola, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $631 in Chingola. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $936 in Chiang Mai and $421 in Chingola. That makes Chingola about 55% cheaper.

Groceries cost about 46% more in Chiang Mai, though the gap depends on what you buy.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $421 in Chingola to $936 in Chiang Mai. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Chingola. 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.