Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Chinhoyi

For one person, living is cheaper in Chinhoyi: $644 a month against $935 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $3,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
Learn more

Chiang Mai Living Index
31

Cost of Living Index in Chinhoyi
Learn more

Chinhoyi Living Index

Jump to prices

Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$935

/mo nomad

Chinhoyi

🇿🇼 Zimbabwe

$644

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Chinhoyi

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Chinhoyi actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $935 per month in Chiang Mai vs $644 in Chinhoyi, rent included.

Chiang Mai $935
Chinhoyi $644

A couple spends around $1,467 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,016 in Chinhoyi, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,467
Chinhoyi $1,016

A family of three spends $1,999 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,388 in Chinhoyi, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,999
Chinhoyi $1,388

Chiang Mai costs about 45% more than Chinhoyi, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Chinhoyi are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Chinhoyi 52% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.13 ฿71.6

$2.02 ZWL 53.7

5.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.62 ฿624

$45.05 ZWL 1,196

-58.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.60 ฿188

$4.39 ZWL 116

27.56%

Cappuccino

$1.66 ฿55.8

$0.98 ZWL 25.97

69.39%

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

$0.65 ฿21.69

$0.34 ZWL 9.12

91.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ฿10.22

$0.26 ZWL 6.92

15.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 ฿77.9

$1.02 ZWL 27.17

127.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿123

$2.05 ZWL 54.3

79.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.02 ฿67.6

$1.54 ZWL 40.92

31.17%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ฿47.21

$0.87 ZWL 23.18

62.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.67

$1.66 ZWL 43.99

-16.27%

Eggs

$2.37 ฿79.4

$1.93 ZWL 51.2

22.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.52 ฿554

$11.63 ZWL 309

42.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.67 ฿89.5

$3.03 ZWL 80.5

-11.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.02 ฿302

$3.91 ZWL 104

130.69%

Apples (1kg)

$2.40 ฿80.4

$1.03 ZWL 27.25

133.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 ฿34.91

$0.97 ZWL 25.84

7.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.66 ฿55.6

$0.99 ZWL 26.18

67.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 ฿52.3

$0.97 ZWL 25.86

60.82%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.50

$1.01 ZWL 26.90

22.77%

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.44

$1.01 ZWL 26.83

7.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 ฿25.54

$0.52 ZWL 13.74

46.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿17.24

$0.82 ZWL 21.88

-37.80%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.12 ฿138

$1.74 ZWL 46.25

136.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.93 ฿601

$7.19 ZWL 191

149.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 ฿54.4

$0.49 ZWL 12.96

230.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 ฿94.6

$0.98 ZWL 26.02

187.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿31.33

$0.98 ZWL 26.02

-5.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$52.9 ฿1,773

$29.64 ZWL 787

78.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ฿39.45

$3.96 ZWL 105

-70.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.17 ฿5.75

$1.98 ZWL 52.5

-91.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 ฿60.8

$5.05 ZWL 134

-64.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ฿49.38

$1.40 ZWL 37.22

5.00%

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

$21.0K ฿704.5K

$22.2K ZWL 590.3K

-5.53%

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

$26.5K ฿889.1K

$27.4K ZWL 727.7K

-3.29%

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

$62.6 ฿2,098

$39.97 ZWL 1,061

56.52%

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

$11.60 ฿389

$19.68 ZWL 522

-41.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.30 ฿681

$73.9 ZWL 1,961

-72.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.88 ฿1,270

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.70 ฿124

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 ฿218

$10.15 ZWL 269

-35.86%

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

$727 ฿24.4K

$424 ZWL 11.2K

71.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.6K ฿555.7K

$15.0K ZWL 398.1K

10.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.5 ฿1,795

$21.27 ZWL 565

151.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.80 ฿832

$19.81 ZWL 526

25.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.4 ฿3,031

$35.82 ZWL 951

152.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.0 ฿2,413

$39.84 ZWL 1,057

80.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$481 ฿16.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$310 ฿10.4K

$182 ZWL 4,826

70.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,058 ฿35.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$659 ฿22.1K

$297 ZWL 7,878

121.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,418 ฿81.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,609 ฿53.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

$197 ZWL 5,239

201.35%

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: November 1, 2026

Last update for Chinhoyi: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$310 33.1%

Chinhoyi

$182 28.2% 41.3% $128

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$237 25.3%

Chinhoyi

$156 24.2% 34.1% $81

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$108 11.6%

Chinhoyi

$53 8.2% 51.5% $56

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Chinhoyi

$134 20.7% 41.4% $39

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$77 8.2%

Chinhoyi

$53 8.2% 31.1% $24

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$59 6.3%

Chinhoyi

$47 7.4% 19.2% $11

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$51 5.4%

Chinhoyi

$20 * 3.2% 60.1% $31

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

Salaries in Chiang Mai are about 3 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $45 in Chinhoyi. Groceries tell a different story – $237 in Chiang Mai vs $156 in Chinhoyi – so Chinhoyi wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇿🇼 Chinhoyi

🕒 Local time

06:13 6:13 AM

01:13 1:13 AM

5 h behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

56,794

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Zimbabwean Dollar ZWL $

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.98 USD

100 THB = 2.67 EUR

100 ZWL = 3.77 USD

100 ZWL = 3.37 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

ZWL, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 33.53 THB (100 THB = 2.98 USD). 1 EUR = 37.47 THB (100 THB = 2.67 EUR).

Zimbabwean Dollar exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 26.54 ZWL (100 ZWL = 3.77 USD). 1 EUR = 29.66 ZWL (100 ZWL = 3.37 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai Chinhoyi 8,520 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Chinhoyi

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 45% more than Chinhoyi, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 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 $727 per month in Chiang Mai and $424 in Chinhoyi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 52% more in Chiang Mai, though the gap depends on what you buy.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $935 in Chiang Mai and $644 in Chinhoyi, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $644 in Chinhoyi to $935 in Chiang Mai. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Chinhoyi. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.