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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $584 in Kabwe, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $947 in Kabwe, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,310 in Kabwe, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 63% more than Kabwe, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chiang Mai and Kabwe are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Kabwe 58% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.4

$5.76 ZMW 111

-63.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$31.68 ZMW 610

-37.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿192

$5.34 ZMW 103

8.43%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.5

$2.91 ZMW 55.9

-37.11%

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

$0.78 ฿25.63

$0.76 ZMW 14.55

2.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.38

$0.47 ZMW 9.03

-34.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.3

$1.27 ZMW 24.40

84.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$2.34 ZMW 44.96

58.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$1.81 ZMW 34.86

12.15%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.8

$1.27 ZMW 24.42

25.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.80

$2.20 ZMW 42.36

-35.45%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿72.0

$1.21 ZMW 23.29

80.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$10.85 ZMW 209

46.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$6.38 ZMW 123

-51.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$6.62 ZMW 127

49.09%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.9

$3.58 ZMW 68.9

-26.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.23

$1.07 ZMW 20.62

2.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.9

$3.83 ZMW 73.8

-57.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$1.57 ZMW 30.27

-2.55%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.16

$2.73 ZMW 52.5

-54.58%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.40

$1.88 ZMW 36.20

-39.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.41

$1.15 ZMW 22.18

-35.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.50

$0.81 ZMW 15.56

-38.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿142

$3.06 ZMW 58.9

39.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

$10.31 ZMW 198

74.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.2

$1.46 ZMW 28.05

16.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.8

$2.42 ZMW 46.61

19.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.15

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,828

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.80

$2.58 ZMW 49.70

-52.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.67

$1.55 ZMW 29.84

-65.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.4

$5.20 ZMW 100

-53.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.60

$1.39 ZMW 26.67

3.60%

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

$21.2K ฿700.9K

$7,707 ZMW 148.4K

174.99%

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

$27.3K ฿903.0K

$27.0K ZMW 520.2K

1.03%

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

$64.9 ฿2,147

$84.1 ZMW 1,620

-22.82%

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

$13.35 ฿442

$10.73 ZMW 206

24.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿689

$57.9 ZMW 1,115

-64.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,337

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$6.28 ZMW 121

6.85%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$141 ZMW 2,707

459.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿500.1K

$16.7K ZMW 321.5K

-9.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,859

$24.13 ZMW 465

133.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿825

$16.00 ZMW 308

55.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,066

$47.52 ZMW 915

95.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,484

$74.3 ZMW 1,431

1.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,500

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿48.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-80.79%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Kabwe: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $32.00 in Kabwe. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $235 in Kabwe – so Kabwe 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 Kabwe: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 63% more than Kabwe, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $876 in Kabwe. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $32.00 in Kabwe. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 3% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kabwe, where all-in costs run around $584, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Kabwe 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. Kabwe costs $584 versus $950 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 Kabwe. 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.