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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $644 in Chinhoyi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,031 in Chinhoyi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,418 in Chinhoyi, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 35% more than Chinhoyi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Chinhoyi are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Chinhoyi 52% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$2.05 ZWL 54.8

-3.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$49.87 ZWL 1,335

-62.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$4.55 ZWL 122

70.33%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$0.99 ZWL 26.37

93.94%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$0.32 ZWL 8.46

146.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$0.24 ZWL 6.40

50.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$0.98 ZWL 26.31

125.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$2.03 ZWL 54.5

80.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$1.54 ZWL 41.34

7.14%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.87 ZWL 23.39

87.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$1.61 ZWL 43.11

-26.09%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$2.09 ZWL 55.9

-4.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$10.80 ZWL 289

47.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$2.94 ZWL 78.7

3.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$3.97 ZWL 106

173.55%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$0.97 ZWL 26.06

184.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$1.03 ZWL 27.57

14.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$0.98 ZWL 26.21

67.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$1.02 ZWL 27.26

49.02%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$0.97 ZWL 26.09

42.27%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$1.03 ZWL 27.53

15.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$0.51 ZWL 13.75

37.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$0.77 ZWL 20.64

-27.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$1.11 ZWL 29.79

312.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

$7.12 ZWL 191

132.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

$0.51 ZWL 13.73

258.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

$0.97 ZWL 26.09

229.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$1.02 ZWL 27.23

-13.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

$29.68 ZWL 794

-36.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$4.07 ZWL 109

-66.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$2.06 ZWL 55.1

-34.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$5.04 ZWL 135

55.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$1.46 ZWL 39.01

-15.75%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$19.6K ZWL 525.9K

10.07%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$23.0K ZWL 615.3K

-1.91%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$40.29 ZWL 1,079

75.08%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$17.46 ZWL 468

-21.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$88.4 ZWL 2,367

-80.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$9.97 ZWL 267

-42.13%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$282 ZWL 7,562

8.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$7,193 ZWL 192.6K

103.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$19.08 ZWL 511

192.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$20.93 ZWL 560

25.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$35.09 ZWL 939

144.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$40.32 ZWL 1,079

79.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$180 ZWL 4,809

32.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$296 ZWL 7,935

72.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

$199 ZWL 5,339

210.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.31

-62.43%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Last update for Chinhoyi: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 210% 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 $50.0 in Chinhoyi. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $153 in Chinhoyi – so Chinhoyi 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 Chinhoyi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 35% more than Chinhoyi, 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 $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $966 in Chinhoyi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Kindergarten costs $307 per month in Chiang Mai and $282 in Chinhoyi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 57% 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.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $869 in Chiang Mai and $644 in Chinhoyi, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chinhoyi costs $644 versus $869 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 Chinhoyi. 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.