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 $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $444 in Chingola, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $742 in Chingola, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,040 in Chingola, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 110% more than Chingola, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Chingola are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Chingola 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.5

$15.75 ZMW 308

-86.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿655

$26.01 ZMW 508

-24.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.3

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

$0.77 ฿25.65

$0.54 ZMW 10.57

42.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.53

$0.38 ZMW 7.34

-7.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.9

$0.61 ZMW 11.85

262.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

$1.31 ZMW 25.50

189.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.4

$1.82 ZMW 35.55

12.64%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.6

$1.25 ZMW 24.46

20.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.69

$2.63 ZMW 51.3

-46.77%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

$1.81 ZMW 35.30

24.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.7

$5.13 ZMW 100

-43.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$4.59 ZMW 89.7

105.23%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.4

$2.05 ZMW 39.95

30.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.37

$2.02 ZMW 39.50

-46.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.0

$2.03 ZMW 39.64

-20.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.74

$2.13 ZMW 41.56

-31.46%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.65

$3.05 ZMW 59.5

-58.03%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.31

$1.52 ZMW 29.70

-30.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.94

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.56

$0.91 ZMW 17.69

-41.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$1.57 ZMW 30.62

169.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿611

$5.21 ZMW 102

251.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$0.65 ZMW 12.66

150.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.8

$0.79 ZMW 15.44

267.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.32

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.14

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.30

$0.64 ZMW 12.45

-9.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

$10.53 ZMW 206

-77.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.41

$1.37 ZMW 26.72

5.84%

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

$21.0K ฿701.4K

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

$26.4K ฿882.0K

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

$63.7 ฿2,125

$52.6 ZMW 1,027

20.98%

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

$12.89 ฿430

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿685

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,302

$10.37 ZMW 202

276.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿220

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

$784 ฿26.2K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,840

$20.47 ZMW 400

169.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿826

$13.12 ZMW 256

88.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,142

$51.2 ZMW 999

83.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,469

$77.6 ZMW 1,515

-4.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,620

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

$15.3K ZMW 299.0K

-90.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.1K

$113 ZMW 2,208

432.18%

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: September 13, 2026

Last update for Chingola: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 432% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $26.00 in Chingola. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $167 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 110% 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 $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $667 in Chingola. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $932 in Chiang Mai and $444 in Chingola. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 44% 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.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Chingola, where all-in costs run around $444, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Chingola it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chingola costs $444 versus $932 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.