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

🙂 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 14.8% cheaper than Lusaka without rent, and 0.2% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 9.6% cheaper than Lusaka without rent, and 11.4% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Lusaka
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.97 ฿62.0
$7.08 ZMW 142
-72.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.68 ฿587
$25.03 ZMW 500
-25.37%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.92 ฿249
$3.64 ZMW 72.8
117.58%
Cappuccino
$2.02 ฿63.7
$1.94 ZMW 38.70
4.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 ฿26.45
$0.68 ZMW 13.65
23.53%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.07
$0.34 ZMW 6.70
2.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.22 ฿69.9
$0.89 ZMW 17.74
149.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59 ฿113
$1.74 ZMW 34.77
106.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Lusaka
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.67 ฿52.4
$1.32 ZMW 26.44
26.52%
White Bread (500g)
$1.62 ฿51.1
$0.78 ZMW 15.65
107.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.20 ฿37.83
$1.63 ZMW 32.61
-26.38%
Eggs
$1.93 ฿60.8
$1.78 ZMW 35.49
8.43%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.00 ฿503
$7.93 ZMW 158
101.77%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.16 ฿99.2
$3.91 ZMW 78.1
-19.18%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.93 ฿344
$4.68 ZMW 93.5
133.55%
Apples (1kg)
$2.67 ฿83.8
$2.49 ZMW 49.80
7.23%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 ฿36.99
$1.65 ZMW 32.99
-28.48%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.64 ฿51.5
$2.81 ZMW 56.2
-41.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 ฿49.83
$1.15 ZMW 23.01
38.26%
Potato (1kg)
$1.32 ฿41.64
$1.90 ZMW 37.92
-30.53%
Onion (1kg)
$1.19 ฿37.49
$1.32 ZMW 26.44
-9.85%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 ฿22.20
$0.92 ZMW 18.37
-22.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿17.75
$0.48 ZMW 9.53
16.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.64 ฿146
$2.42 ZMW 48.44
91.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.96 ฿596
$7.40 ZMW 148
156.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 ฿55.7
$1.14 ZMW 22.74
55.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 ฿101
$1.59 ZMW 31.67
101.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Lusaka
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.90 ฿28.32
$1.04 ZMW 20.68
-13.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.24 ฿605
$38.21 ZMW 763
-49.65%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ฿42.78
$2.81 ZMW 56.2
-51.60%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿42.37
$1.17 ZMW 23.38
15.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.15 ฿256
$9.34 ZMW 187
-12.74%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.22 ฿38.43
$1.23 ZMW 24.59
-0.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K ฿671.8K
$8,063 ZMW 161.1K
165.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.7K ฿683.8K
$29.0K ZMW 579.4K
-24.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Lusaka
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.3 ฿2,210
$91.3 ZMW 1,825
-23.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.91 ฿437
$53.3 ZMW 1,064
-73.89%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.00 ฿566
$126 ZMW 2,515
-85.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Lusaka
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.78 ฿1,314
$45.32 ZMW 906
-7.81%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.80 ฿214
$13.95 ZMW 279
-51.25%
Cinema Ticket
$5.72 ฿180
$4.13 ZMW 82.5
38.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Lusaka
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 ฿9,693
$179 ZMW 3,578
72.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿465.7K
$9,680 ZMW 193.4K
53.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Lusaka
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.9 ฿1,756
$18.79 ZMW 375
197.23%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.71 ฿840
$16.87 ZMW 337
58.33%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.5 ฿2,658
$85.4 ZMW 1,707
-1.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.8 ฿2,227
$72.9 ZMW 1,457
-2.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Lusaka
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$431 ฿13.5K
$230 ZMW 4,588
87.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$237 ฿7,439
$124 ZMW 2,469
91.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$811 ฿25.5K
$1,032 ZMW 20.6K
-21.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$501 ฿15.7K
$598 ZMW 12.0K
-16.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,202 ฿69.2K
$1,935 ZMW 38.7K
13.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,600 ฿50.3K
$3,782 ZMW 75.6K
-57.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Lusaka
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$684 ฿21.5K
$344 ZMW 6,868
99.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
25
-80.00%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: January 13, 2026

Last update for Lusaka: January 12, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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