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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $338 in Chingola, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $569 in Chingola, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $800 in Chingola, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 152% more than Chingola, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Chingola are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Chingola 75% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$12.36 ZMW 235

-84.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$20.38 ZMW 387

-7.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$0.42 ZMW 8.05

100.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.30 ZMW 5.72

16.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$0.48 ZMW 9.08

360.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$1.06 ZMW 20.04

258.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.05 ZMW 19.91

56.19%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$0.77 ZMW 14.69

110.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$2.01 ZMW 38.23

-41.29%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$1.14 ZMW 21.58

76.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$2.08 ZMW 39.53

44.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$3.75 ZMW 71.1

187.20%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$1.71 ZMW 32.38

52.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$1.65 ZMW 31.25

-26.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$1.63 ZMW 30.96

4.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$1.64 ZMW 31.06

-3.66%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$2.44 ZMW 46.38

-45.90%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$1.27 ZMW 24.09

-7.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.74 ZMW 14.03

-24.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$1.22 ZMW 23.18

271.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$5.16 ZMW 97.9

252.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$0.52 ZMW 9.86

251.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$0.61 ZMW 11.56

429.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$0.45 ZMW 8.51

200.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$8.48 ZMW 161

-2.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$1.19 ZMW 22.57

6.72%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$41.69 ZMW 791

68.27%

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

$13.77 ฿450

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$8.24 ZMW 156

404.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

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

$306 ฿10.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$16.35 ZMW 310

232.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$10.35 ZMW 197

152.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$41.97 ZMW 797

101.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$62.3 ZMW 1,182

11.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

$15.9K ZMW 302.1K

-90.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

$117 ZMW 2,224

442.02%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Last update for Chingola: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 442% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $20.00 in Chingola. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $118 in Chingola – so Chingola 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

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

Chiang Mai costs about 152% more than Chingola, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $508 in Chingola. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $852 in Chiang Mai and $338 in Chingola. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 105% 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.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $338 in Chingola, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chingola costs $338 versus $852 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Chingola. 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.