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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $596 in Kadoma, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $986 in Kadoma, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,377 in Kadoma, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 56% more than Kadoma, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Kadoma are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Kadoma 56% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.3

$10.19 ZWL 272

-79.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿653

$40.52 ZWL 1,080

-51.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$6.12 ZWL 163

-7.35%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.1

$3.08 ZWL 82.1

-41.23%

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

$0.77 ฿25.58

$0.98 ZWL 26.08

-21.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.49

$0.49 ZWL 13.00

-28.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.7

$1.49 ZWL 39.63

48.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

$1.95 ZWL 52.0

94.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.2

$1.53 ZWL 40.64

33.99%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

$0.99 ZWL 26.33

52.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.57

$1.69 ZWL 45.16

-17.16%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.2

$1.87 ZWL 49.73

20.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿539

$11.79 ZWL 314

37.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.4

$5.65 ZWL 150

-48.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$6.64 ZWL 177

41.87%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.2

$3.13 ZWL 83.5

-14.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.28

$1.68 ZWL 44.65

-35.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

$2.08 ZWL 55.5

-22.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.61

$1.46 ZWL 38.86

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.54

$1.71 ZWL 45.53

-25.15%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.21

$1.87 ZWL 49.84

-43.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.88

$1.17 ZWL 31.24

-38.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.51

$1.01 ZWL 26.85

-47.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$2.04 ZWL 54.4

107.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿609

$9.09 ZWL 242

101.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.3

$1.35 ZWL 35.99

20.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.6

$1.96 ZWL 52.1

47.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.24

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,790

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.04

$3.92 ZWL 104

-70.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.25

$1.97 ZWL 52.5

-70.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.4

$4.85 ZWL 129

-50.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.28

$1.81 ZWL 48.24

-19.89%

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

$21.0K ฿699.5K

$21.7K ZWL 577.9K

-3.10%

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

$26.4K ฿879.7K

$28.0K ZWL 745.9K

-5.59%

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

$63.7 ฿2,119

$53.4 ZWL 1,423

19.22%

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

$12.89 ฿429

$21.34 ZWL 569

-39.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿683

$68.2 ZWL 1,816

-69.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,299

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$10.18 ZWL 271

-35.36%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

$460 ZWL 12.3K

70.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿488.4K

$8,961 ZWL 238.8K

63.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,835

$24.34 ZWL 649

126.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿824

$21.19 ZWL 565

16.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,133

$39.59 ZWL 1,055

137.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,462

$41.71 ZWL 1,112

77.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,594

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

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 Kadoma: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $41.00 in Kadoma. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $219 in Kadoma – so Kadoma 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 Kadoma: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 56% more than Kadoma, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. 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 $894 in Kadoma. 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 $41.00 in Kadoma. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 10% 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 $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kadoma, where all-in costs run around $596, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Kadoma 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. Kadoma costs $596 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 Kadoma. 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.