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

🙂 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 11.8% cheaper than Kafue without rent, and 24.9% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 13.3% more expensive than Kafue without rent, and 35.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Kafue
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.03 ฿64.8
$7.07 ZMW 137
-71.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.59 ฿594
$25.26 ZMW 488
-26.41%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.48 ฿239
$3.68 ZMW 71.0
103.26%
Cappuccino
$2.00 ฿63.8
$1.97 ZMW 37.96
1.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 ฿27.08
$0.68 ZMW 13.05
25.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.24
$0.37 ZMW 7.09
-5.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ฿70.7
$0.87 ZMW 16.86
154.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.76 ฿120
$1.82 ZMW 35.19
106.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Kafue
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 ฿54.9
$1.32 ZMW 25.48
30.30%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 ฿52.2
$0.81 ZMW 15.59
101.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 ฿37.04
$1.65 ZMW 31.91
-29.70%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿63.3
$1.76 ZMW 34.06
12.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.93 ฿509
$7.51 ZMW 145
112.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 ฿101
$3.94 ZMW 76.1
-19.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.90 ฿349
$4.74 ZMW 91.6
129.96%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 ฿84.6
$2.59 ZMW 49.94
2.32%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿39.09
$1.67 ZMW 32.17
-26.95%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.70 ฿54.3
$2.70 ZMW 52.2
-37.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 ฿50.8
$1.15 ZMW 22.26
38.26%
Potato (1kg)
$1.32 ฿42.33
$1.82 ZMW 35.16
-27.47%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ฿37.36
$1.32 ZMW 25.41
-11.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ฿21.67
$0.86 ZMW 16.52
-20.93%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿17.81
$0.52 ZMW 10.11
7.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.51 ฿144
$2.45 ZMW 47.39
84.08%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.07 ฿610
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 ฿56.6
$1.13 ZMW 21.90
56.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 ฿102
$1.56 ZMW 30.03
103.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Kafue
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.96 ฿30.78
$1.64 ZMW 31.75
-41.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.90 ฿604
$46.92 ZMW 906
-59.72%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ฿43.41
$2.81 ZMW 54.4
-51.60%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿43.23
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.03 ฿257
$8.96 ZMW 173
-10.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 ฿39.74
$1.24 ZMW 24.01
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿676.6K
$8,019 ZMW 154.8K
163.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿695.5K
$29.0K ZMW 559.5K
-24.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Kafue
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$71.2 ฿2,277
$90.2 ZMW 1,741
-21.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.09 ฿450
$52.5 ZMW 1,013
-73.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.47 ฿559
$125 ZMW 2,405
-85.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Kafue
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.07 ฿1,345
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88 ฿220
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.94 ฿190
$4.17 ZMW 80.5
42.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Kafue
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$307 ฿9,827
$179 ZMW 3,454
71.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿473.0K
$9,440 ZMW 182.3K
56.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Kafue
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.7 ฿1,780
$19.30 ZMW 373
188.45%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.79 ฿856
$17.27 ZMW 333
55.12%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.2 ฿2,661
$85.0 ZMW 1,642
-2.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.1 ฿2,241
$73.9 ZMW 1,428
-5.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Kafue
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$427 ฿13.7K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$237 ฿7,580
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$802 ฿25.6K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$503 ฿16.1K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,061 ฿65.9K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,533 ฿49.0K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Kafue
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$654 ฿20.9K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
25
-80.00%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: March 1, 2026

Last update for Kafue: February 28, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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