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 $708 in Kafue, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,061 in Kafue, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,414 in Kafue, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 20% 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 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.2

$7.33 ZMW 137

-72.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿624

$25.17 ZMW 469

-25.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿262

$3.63 ZMW 67.7

116.53%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.7

$1.92 ZMW 35.83

5.73%

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

$0.80 ฿26.64

$0.67 ZMW 12.53

19.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.68

$0.33 ZMW 6.23

6.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.5

$0.87 ZMW 16.22

145.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿122

$1.81 ZMW 33.84

102.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.6

$1.33 ZMW 24.90

30.08%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.4

$0.75 ZMW 14.04

109.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿39.99

$1.60 ZMW 29.83

-25.00%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿65.8

$1.85 ZMW 34.45

6.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿541

$7.62 ZMW 142

112.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$3.80 ZMW 70.8

-19.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿360

$4.65 ZMW 86.7

132.26%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.3

$2.48 ZMW 46.19

11.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.94

$1.65 ZMW 30.82

-29.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.0

$2.75 ZMW 51.3

-37.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.2

$1.15 ZMW 21.54

38.26%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.51

$1.87 ZMW 34.88

-25.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.56

$1.33 ZMW 24.71

-12.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.05

$0.92 ZMW 17.18

-28.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.31

$0.52 ZMW 9.62

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$2.54 ZMW 47.40

83.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿593

$10.77 ZMW 201

65.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.6

$1.12 ZMW 20.96

59.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿111

$1.51 ZMW 28.24

121.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.27

$1.64 ZMW 30.61

-44.51%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿622

$46.63 ZMW 870

-60.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.04

$2.69 ZMW 50.1

-47.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.70

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿270

$9.29 ZMW 173

-12.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.16

$1.20 ZMW 22.33

2.50%

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

$21.4K ฿715.1K

$7,897 ZMW 147.3K

171.43%

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

$21.8K ฿728.0K

$28.4K ZMW 528.8K

-23.03%

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

$71.3 ฿2,379

$90.2 ZMW 1,681

-20.88%

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

$14.01 ฿467

$52.3 ZMW 976

-73.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿598

$125 ZMW 2,336

-85.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,362

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$4.23 ZMW 78.9

35.22%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$174 ZMW 3,245

77.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.7K

$9,500 ZMW 177.2K

54.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,860

$18.76 ZMW 350

197.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿869

$17.29 ZMW 323

50.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,829

$83.3 ZMW 1,554

1.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,368

$72.1 ZMW 1,344

-1.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,088

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿16.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿48.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Kafue: July 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 – $244 in Chiang Mai vs $178 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 20% 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 $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,061 in Kafue. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Kindergarten costs $308 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 37% 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 $708 in Kafue, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kafue costs $708 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.