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 $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $666 in Chinhoyi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,032 in Chinhoyi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,399 in Chinhoyi, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 28% more than Chinhoyi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Chinhoyi are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Chinhoyi 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.2

$1.99 ZWL 53.0

2.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿624

$49.88 ZWL 1,331

-62.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿262

$4.47 ZWL 119

75.84%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.7

$1.02 ZWL 27.24

99.02%

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

$0.80 ฿26.64

$0.34 ZWL 9.10

135.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.68

$0.24 ZWL 6.38

45.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.5

$0.99 ZWL 26.40

116.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿122

$1.98 ZWL 52.8

85.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.6

$1.51 ZWL 40.36

14.57%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.4

$0.81 ZWL 21.53

93.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿39.99

$1.63 ZWL 43.57

-26.38%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿65.8

$2.11 ZWL 56.2

-6.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿541

$11.03 ZWL 294

47.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$2.95 ZWL 78.7

3.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿360

$4.03 ZWL 108

167.99%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.3

$0.97 ZWL 25.96

185.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.94

$1.03 ZWL 27.43

13.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.0

$1.03 ZWL 27.42

66.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.2

$1.03 ZWL 27.42

54.37%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.51

$0.97 ZWL 26.01

43.30%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.56

$1.03 ZWL 27.38

12.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.05

$0.51 ZWL 13.67

29.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.31

$0.78 ZWL 20.69

-33.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$1.07 ZWL 28.62

334.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿593

$6.82 ZWL 182

160.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.6

$0.48 ZWL 12.85

272.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿111

$1.03 ZWL 27.39

224.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.27

$0.99 ZWL 26.31

-8.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿622

$29.74 ZWL 793

-37.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.04

$4.02 ZWL 107

-64.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.70

$2.02 ZWL 53.9

-33.66%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿270

$5.05 ZWL 135

60.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.16

$1.39 ZWL 36.97

-11.51%

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

$21.4K ฿715.1K

$20.3K ZWL 540.4K

5.83%

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

$21.8K ฿728.0K

$22.9K ZWL 612.0K

-4.86%

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

$71.3 ฿2,379

$40.57 ZWL 1,082

75.82%

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

$14.01 ฿467

$17.94 ZWL 479

-21.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿598

$90.1 ZWL 2,402

-80.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,362

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$10.20 ZWL 272

-43.92%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$280 ZWL 7,459

10.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.7K

$7,365 ZWL 196.5K

99.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,860

$19.40 ZWL 518

187.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿869

$21.35 ZWL 570

21.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,829

$34.29 ZWL 915

147.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,368

$39.83 ZWL 1,063

78.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,088

$178 ZWL 4,760

35.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿16.9K

$302 ZWL 8,058

67.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿48.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

$201 ZWL 5,363

196.04%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Chinhoyi: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 196% 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 – $244 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 28% 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 $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $998 in Chinhoyi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Kindergarten costs $308 per month in Chiang Mai and $280 in Chinhoyi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 60% 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 $852 in Chiang Mai and $666 in Chinhoyi, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chinhoyi costs $666 versus $852 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.