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 $848 per month in Chiang Mai vs $339 in Chingola, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,331 per month in Chiang Mai vs $575 in Chingola, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,814 per month in Chiang Mai vs $811 in Chingola, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 150% 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 ฿63.6

$12.28 ZMW 217

-84.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.39 ฿598

$20.66 ZMW 365

-10.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.87 ฿256

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.4

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

$0.85 ฿27.57

$0.39 ZMW 6.92

117.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.52

$0.30 ZMW 5.33

6.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿69.6

$0.52 ZMW 9.11

311.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 ฿120

$1.06 ZMW 18.75

247.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ฿53.9

$1.04 ZMW 18.37

59.62%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 ฿50.7

$0.78 ZMW 13.68

100.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.63

$2.05 ZMW 36.14

-41.95%

Eggs

$1.99 ฿64.7

$1.10 ZMW 19.39

80.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.24 ฿528

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ฿103

$2.03 ZMW 35.76

56.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.84 ฿352

$3.66 ZMW 64.5

196.17%

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 ฿86.2

$1.64 ZMW 28.89

61.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.67

$1.64 ZMW 28.90

-25.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 ฿53.7

$1.68 ZMW 29.65

-1.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 ฿50.3

$1.69 ZMW 29.77

-8.28%

Potato (1kg)

$1.33 ฿43.17

$2.56 ZMW 45.11

-48.05%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.43

$1.26 ZMW 22.29

-3.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ฿22.04

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ฿18.38

$0.74 ZMW 13.09

-22.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.68 ฿152

$1.26 ZMW 22.15

271.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.99 ฿552

$5.57 ZMW 98.3

205.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 ฿59.3

$0.51 ZMW 9.00

256.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ฿103

$0.63 ZMW 11.13

404.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿29.46

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.74 ฿609

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.80

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.52

$0.45 ZMW 7.93

197.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.14 ฿265

$8.08 ZMW 143

0.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 ฿41.53

$1.23 ZMW 21.69

4.07%

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

$21.8K ฿709.3K

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

$22.4K ฿728.0K

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

$70.5 ฿2,291

$40.93 ZMW 722

72.20%

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

$14.05 ฿457

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.65 ฿574

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.29 ฿1,342

$8.17 ZMW 144

405.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.76 ฿220

Cinema Ticket

$5.96 ฿194

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

$303 ฿9,846

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿486.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,778

$16.46 ZMW 290

232.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.29 ฿854

$10.34 ZMW 182

154.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,788

$41.50 ZMW 732

106.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.7 ฿2,265

$62.7 ZMW 1,105

11.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿13.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,769

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$811 ฿26.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$510 ฿16.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,025 ฿65.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,502 ฿48.8K

$16.9K ZMW 298.8K

-91.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$623 ฿20.2K

$126 ZMW 2,228

392.86%

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: June 13, 2026

Last update for Chingola: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 393% 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $21.00 in Chingola. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $119 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 150% 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 $1,272 per month in Chiang Mai and $509 in Chingola. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $848 in Chiang Mai and $339 in Chingola. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 103% 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 $848 in Chiang Mai and $339 in Chingola, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chingola costs $339 versus $848 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.