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 $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $632 in Kabwe, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $948 in Kabwe, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,264 in Kabwe, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 37% more than Kabwe, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Chiang Mai and Kabwe are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Kabwe 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$7.30 ZMW 128

-72.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$25.29 ZMW 442

-25.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$3.68 ZMW 64.3

110.60%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$2.03 ZMW 35.54

-5.42%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$0.73 ZMW 12.74

8.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$0.36 ZMW 6.35

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$0.94 ZMW 16.51

135.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$1.81 ZMW 31.65

102.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$1.27 ZMW 22.17

29.92%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.75 ZMW 13.12

117.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$1.67 ZMW 29.11

-28.74%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$0.97 ZMW 16.92

106.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$7.85 ZMW 137

103.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$3.80 ZMW 66.5

-20.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$4.55 ZMW 79.6

138.68%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$2.48 ZMW 43.32

11.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$0.87 ZMW 15.14

35.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$2.79 ZMW 48.73

-41.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$1.16 ZMW 20.28

31.03%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$1.80 ZMW 31.40

-23.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$1.31 ZMW 22.93

-9.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$0.92 ZMW 16.11

-23.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$0.52 ZMW 9.11

7.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$2.42 ZMW 42.26

89.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

$11.19 ZMW 196

47.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

$1.10 ZMW 19.21

66.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

$1.52 ZMW 26.65

110.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$2.77 ZMW 48.37

-50.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$8.94 ZMW 156

-12.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$1.24 ZMW 21.68

-0.81%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$8,110 ZMW 141.8K

166.63%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$28.9K ZMW 504.9K

-21.94%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$92.3 ZMW 1,614

-23.60%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$52.0 ZMW 909

-73.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$126 ZMW 2,194

-86.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$4.09 ZMW 71.6

41.08%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$180 ZMW 3,150

70.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$9,441 ZMW 165.0K

54.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$19.14 ZMW 334

191.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$16.66 ZMW 291

57.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$84.9 ZMW 1,484

1.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$71.7 ZMW 1,253

0.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

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

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-80.00%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Last update for Kabwe: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $25.00 in Kabwe. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $170 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 37% more than Kabwe, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. 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 $948 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $25.00 in Kabwe. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 41% 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.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $869 in Chiang Mai and $632 in Kabwe, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kabwe costs $632 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 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.