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 $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $702 in Kafue, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,039 in Kafue, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,375 in Kafue, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 21% more than Kafue, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Chiang Mai and Kafue are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Kafue 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$7.05 ZMW 134

-72.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$25.14 ZMW 477

-25.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$3.64 ZMW 69.2

117.58%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$1.92 ZMW 36.51

-0.52%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$0.69 ZMW 13.00

21.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.36 ZMW 6.84

-2.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$0.95 ZMW 18.02

132.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$1.80 ZMW 34.23

111.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.34 ZMW 25.38

22.39%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$0.75 ZMW 14.22

116.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$1.59 ZMW 30.20

-25.79%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$1.83 ZMW 34.71

9.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$7.67 ZMW 146

107.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$3.96 ZMW 75.2

-23.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$4.67 ZMW 88.6

130.62%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$2.60 ZMW 49.38

0.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$1.61 ZMW 30.51

-24.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$2.71 ZMW 51.4

-37.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$1.11 ZMW 21.11

42.34%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$1.81 ZMW 34.37

-27.07%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$1.37 ZMW 26.00

-14.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$0.87 ZMW 16.45

-22.99%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.51 ZMW 9.68

9.80%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$2.43 ZMW 46.15

86.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$7.85 ZMW 149

131.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$1.14 ZMW 21.67

60.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.56 ZMW 29.53

107.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$1.62 ZMW 30.79

-45.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

$47.22 ZMW 896

-58.96%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$2.72 ZMW 51.6

-50.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$9.43 ZMW 179

-12.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$1.20 ZMW 22.71

5.83%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$7,881 ZMW 149.6K

168.45%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$28.9K ZMW 548.3K

-22.16%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$89.9 ZMW 1,706

-21.97%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$53.0 ZMW 1,005

-74.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$124 ZMW 2,355

-85.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$4.07 ZMW 77.3

42.01%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$177 ZMW 3,351

73.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$9,736 ZMW 184.8K

52.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$18.66 ZMW 354

191.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$17.33 ZMW 329

50.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$85.9 ZMW 1,630

-1.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$73.4 ZMW 1,393

-5.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Kafue: April 26, 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 – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $173 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 21% 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 $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,053 in Kafue. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Kindergarten costs $306 per month in Chiang Mai and $177 in Kafue. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing 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.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $702 in Kafue, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kafue costs $702 versus $852 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.