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 $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $605 in Kafue, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $953 in Kafue, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,302 in Kafue, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 54% more than Kafue, driven mainly by Getting Around.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.3

$5.73 ZMW 112

-63.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿653

$30.86 ZMW 605

-36.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$5.16 ZMW 101

9.88%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.1

$2.85 ZMW 55.9

-36.49%

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

$0.77 ฿25.58

$0.75 ZMW 14.63

2.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.49

$0.50 ZMW 9.81

-30.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.7

$1.28 ZMW 25.08

72.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

$2.30 ZMW 45.11

64.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.2

$1.83 ZMW 35.96

12.02%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

$1.26 ZMW 24.71

19.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.57

$2.13 ZMW 41.74

-34.27%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.2

$1.97 ZMW 38.63

14.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿539

$10.78 ZMW 211

50.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.4

$6.75 ZMW 132

-57.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$6.72 ZMW 132

40.18%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.2

$3.57 ZMW 69.9

-24.93%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.28

$2.55 ZMW 50.0

-57.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

$3.79 ZMW 74.4

-57.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.61

$1.56 ZMW 30.63

-6.41%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.54

$2.60 ZMW 51.0

-50.77%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.21

$1.94 ZMW 38.05

-45.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.88

$1.20 ZMW 23.59

-40.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.51

$0.81 ZMW 15.88

-34.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$3.19 ZMW 62.5

32.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿609

$10.60 ZMW 208

72.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.3

$1.52 ZMW 29.83

7.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.6

$2.34 ZMW 45.90

23.93%

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

$2.59 ZMW 50.8

-54.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.25

$1.62 ZMW 31.67

-64.20%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.4

$5.13 ZMW 100

-53.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.28

$1.61 ZMW 31.55

-9.94%

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

$21.0K ฿699.5K

$7,734 ZMW 151.6K

171.67%

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

$26.4K ฿879.7K

$27.2K ZMW 532.7K

-2.78%

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

$63.7 ฿2,119

$82.0 ZMW 1,607

-22.36%

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

$12.89 ฿429

$10.99 ZMW 215

17.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿683

$57.5 ZMW 1,127

-64.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,299

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$6.38 ZMW 125

3.13%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

$146 ZMW 2,868

435.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿488.4K

$16.8K ZMW 328.3K

-12.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,835

$23.80 ZMW 466

131.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿824

$15.75 ZMW 309

57.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,133

$46.80 ZMW 917

101.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,462

$74.4 ZMW 1,458

-0.56%

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

-80.79%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Kafue: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $31.00 in Kafue. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $249 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 54% more than Kafue, 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 $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $907 in Kafue. 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 $31.00 in Kafue. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 4% cheaper in Chiang Mai – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Kafue, where all-in costs run around $605, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Kafue 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. Kafue costs $605 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 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.