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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $699 in Kafue, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,058 in Kafue, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,416 in Kafue, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 24% more than Kafue, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Chiang Mai and Kafue are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Kafue 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$7.05 ZMW 123

-71.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$25.10 ZMW 439

-25.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$3.77 ZMW 65.8

105.57%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$1.97 ZMW 34.38

-2.54%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$0.68 ZMW 11.84

16.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$0.36 ZMW 6.37

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$0.95 ZMW 16.60

132.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$1.81 ZMW 31.64

102.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$1.27 ZMW 22.13

29.92%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.80 ZMW 13.90

103.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$1.58 ZMW 27.65

-24.68%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$1.83 ZMW 31.93

9.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$7.69 ZMW 134

107.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$3.97 ZMW 69.5

-23.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$4.63 ZMW 80.9

134.56%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$2.57 ZMW 44.91

7.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$1.63 ZMW 28.52

-27.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$2.70 ZMW 47.24

-39.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$1.13 ZMW 19.74

34.51%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$1.88 ZMW 32.87

-26.60%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$1.36 ZMW 23.82

-12.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$0.88 ZMW 15.37

-20.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$0.49 ZMW 8.51

14.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$2.42 ZMW 42.24

89.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

$11.34 ZMW 198

46.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

$1.08 ZMW 18.89

69.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

$1.52 ZMW 26.54

110.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$1.61 ZMW 28.22

-45.34%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

$46.10 ZMW 806

-59.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$2.81 ZMW 49.17

-51.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$9.37 ZMW 164

-16.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$1.20 ZMW 20.97

2.50%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$8,105 ZMW 141.7K

166.79%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$28.4K ZMW 496.4K

-20.61%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$91.0 ZMW 1,590

-22.47%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$52.2 ZMW 912

-73.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$126 ZMW 2,210

-86.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$4.25 ZMW 74.2

35.76%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$174 ZMW 3,035

76.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$9,402 ZMW 164.3K

55.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$18.99 ZMW 332

193.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$17.28 ZMW 302

51.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$83.4 ZMW 1,457

2.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$73.6 ZMW 1,287

-1.89%

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 Kafue: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $25.00 in Kafue. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $179 in Kafue – so Kafue 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 Kafue: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 24% more than Kafue, 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 $1,049 in Kafue. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Kindergarten costs $307 per month in Chiang Mai and $174 in Kafue. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 35% 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 $869 in Chiang Mai and $699 in Kafue, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kafue costs $699 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 Kafue. 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.