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 $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $630 in Chinhoyi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,001 in Chinhoyi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,373 in Chinhoyi, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 48% more than Chinhoyi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Chinhoyi are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Chinhoyi 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.4

$1.96 ZWL 52.2

6.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿654

$39.98 ZWL 1,065

-50.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$4.43 ZWL 118

27.99%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.2

$0.99 ZWL 26.27

82.83%

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

$0.77 ฿25.60

$0.35 ZWL 9.21

120.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.50

$0.24 ZWL 6.39

45.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.8

$0.98 ZWL 26.17

125.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

$2.02 ZWL 53.8

87.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.2

$1.47 ZWL 39.18

39.46%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.5

$0.86 ZWL 22.97

75.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.61

$1.63 ZWL 43.35

-14.11%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.2

$1.94 ZWL 51.7

16.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

$12.13 ZWL 323

33.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.5

$2.98 ZWL 79.4

-2.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$4.05 ZWL 108

132.59%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.2

$1.02 ZWL 27.16

162.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.31

$0.97 ZWL 25.96

12.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.9

$0.97 ZWL 25.96

67.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.66

$0.99 ZWL 26.31

47.47%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.57

$0.97 ZWL 25.97

31.96%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.25

$0.97 ZWL 25.96

9.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.90

$0.49 ZWL 12.98

46.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.53

$0.77 ZWL 20.44

-31.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$1.99 ZWL 53.0

112.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿610

$7.01 ZWL 187

160.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.3

$0.52 ZWL 13.90

213.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.7

$0.98 ZWL 26.13

195.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.26

$0.98 ZWL 26.14

-10.20%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,791

$30.47 ZWL 812

76.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.07

$3.91 ZWL 104

-70.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.26

$2.04 ZWL 54.4

-71.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.5

$5.02 ZWL 134

-52.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.32

$1.40 ZWL 37.34

3.57%

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

$21.0K ฿700.1K

$22.2K ZWL 591.3K

-5.30%

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

$26.4K ฿880.5K

$27.1K ZWL 723.0K

-2.60%

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

$63.7 ฿2,121

$40.57 ZWL 1,081

56.89%

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

$12.89 ฿430

$19.88 ZWL 530

-35.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿684

$68.1 ZWL 1,815

-69.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,300

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$10.09 ZWL 269

-34.79%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

$457 ZWL 12.2K

71.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿488.9K

$8,890 ZWL 236.9K

65.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,836

$24.34 ZWL 649

126.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿824

$21.44 ZWL 571

15.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,136

$39.49 ZWL 1,053

138.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,464

$42.30 ZWL 1,127

74.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,602

$180 ZWL 4,808

59.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

$296 ZWL 7,895

75.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

$198 ZWL 5,280

203.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

13.69

-59.31%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Chinhoyi: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 204% 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 $40.00 in Chinhoyi. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $155 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 48% 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 $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $945 in Chinhoyi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Kindergarten costs $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $457 in Chinhoyi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 55% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Chinhoyi, where all-in costs run around $630, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Chinhoyi 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. Chinhoyi costs $630 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 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.