Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Kafue

For one person, living is cheaper in Kafue: $564 a month against $935 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $4,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index
27

Cost of Living Index in Kafue
Learn more

Kafue Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$935

/mo nomad

Kafue

🇿🇲 Zambia

$564

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Kafue

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Kafue actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $935 per month in Chiang Mai vs $564 in Kafue, rent included.

Chiang Mai $935
Kafue $564

A couple spends around $1,467 per month in Chiang Mai vs $902 in Kafue, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,467
Kafue $902

A family of three spends $1,999 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,239 in Kafue, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,999
Kafue $1,239

Chiang Mai costs about 66% more than Kafue, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Chiang Mai and Kafue are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Kafue 58% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.13 ฿72.0

$5.37 ZMW 109

-60.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.62 ฿628

$29.41 ZMW 596

-36.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.60 ฿189

$5.04 ZMW 102

11.11%

Cappuccino

$1.66 ฿56.1

$2.86 ZMW 57.9

-41.96%

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

$0.65 ฿21.83

$0.72 ZMW 14.48

-9.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ฿10.29

$0.48 ZMW 9.70

-37.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 ฿78.4

$1.22 ZMW 24.78

90.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿124

$2.27 ZMW 45.89

61.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.02 ฿68.0

$1.68 ZMW 33.96

20.24%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ฿47.51

$1.16 ZMW 23.56

21.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.96

$2.01 ZMW 40.62

-30.85%

Eggs

$2.37 ฿79.9

$1.94 ZMW 39.30

22.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.52 ฿557

$10.19 ZMW 206

62.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.67 ฿90.1

$6.17 ZMW 125

-56.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.02 ฿304

$6.62 ZMW 134

36.25%

Apples (1kg)

$2.40 ฿80.9

$3.38 ZMW 68.5

-28.99%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 ฿35.13

$2.36 ZMW 47.84

-55.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.66 ฿56.0

$3.24 ZMW 65.6

-48.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 ฿52.6

$1.54 ZMW 31.16

1.30%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.76

$2.60 ZMW 52.7

-52.31%

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.66

$1.77 ZMW 35.82

-38.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 ฿25.70

$1.11 ZMW 22.41

-31.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿17.35

$0.71 ZMW 14.47

-28.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.12 ฿139

$3.01 ZMW 61.0

36.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.93 ฿605

$9.92 ZMW 201

80.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 ฿54.8

$1.37 ZMW 27.82

18.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 ฿95.2

$2.27 ZMW 45.99

24.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿31.53

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$52.9 ฿1,785

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ฿39.70

$2.43 ZMW 49.14

-51.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.17 ฿5.79

$1.44 ZMW 29.07

-88.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 ฿61.1

$5.01 ZMW 102

-63.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ฿49.69

$1.46 ZMW 29.61

0.68%

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

$21.0K ฿708.9K

$7,396 ZMW 149.8K

184.11%

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

$26.5K ฿894.6K

$24.7K ZMW 500.5K

7.29%

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

$62.6 ฿2,111

$69.0 ZMW 1,397

-9.29%

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

$11.60 ฿392

$10.75 ZMW 218

7.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.30 ฿685

$53.6 ZMW 1,085

-62.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.88 ฿1,278

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.70 ฿125

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 ฿220

$5.82 ZMW 118

11.86%

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

$727 ฿24.5K

$145 ZMW 2,945

399.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.6K ฿559.2K

$20.5K ZMW 414.8K

-19.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.5 ฿1,807

$24.90 ZMW 504

115.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.80 ฿837

$17.39 ZMW 352

42.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.4 ฿3,050

$44.90 ZMW 909

101.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.0 ฿2,428

$65.1 ZMW 1,319

10.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$481 ฿16.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$310 ฿10.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,058 ฿35.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$659 ฿22.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,418 ฿81.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,609 ฿54.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿20.1K

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: November 1, 2026

Last update for Kafue: October 31, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$310 33.1%

Kafue

- * 0% 100%

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$237 25.3%

Kafue

$233 41.3% 1.6% $3.8

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$108 11.6%

Kafue

$69 12.2% 36.7% $40

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Kafue

$133 23.6% 41.1% $39

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$77 8.2%

Kafue

$108 19.1% 40.8% $31

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$59 6.3%

Kafue

$9.6 * 1.7% 83.6% $49

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$51 5.4%

Kafue

$12 * 2.1% 77.1% $39

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $29 in Kafue. Groceries tell a different story – $237 in Chiang Mai vs $233 in Kafue – so Kafue wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇿🇲 Kafue

🕒 Local time

05:43 5:43 AM

00:43 12:43 AM

5 h behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

104,174

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Zambian Kwacha ZMW ZK

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.65 EUR

100 ZMW = 4.94 USD

100 ZMW = 4.42 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

ZMW, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 33.74 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.73 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

Zambian Kwacha exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 20.25 ZMW (100 ZMW = 4.94 USD). 1 EUR = 22.65 ZMW (100 ZMW = 4.42 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai Kafue 8,650 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Kafue

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 66% more than Kafue, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from transport. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $846 in Kafue. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $935 in Chiang Mai and $564 in Kafue. That makes Kafue about 40% cheaper.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai and $29 in Kafue. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $935 in Chiang Mai and $564 in Kafue, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $564 in Kafue to $935 in Chiang Mai. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.