Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Lusaka

For one person, living is cheaper in Lusaka: $872 a month against $925 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $640 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Chiang Mai outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
Learn more

Chiang Mai Living Index
42

Cost of Living Index in Lusaka
Learn more

Lusaka Living Index

Jump to prices

Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$925

/mo nomad

Lusaka

🇿🇲 Zambia

$872

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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 Lusaka actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $925 per month in Chiang Mai vs $872 in Lusaka, rent included.

Chiang Mai $925
Lusaka $872

A couple spends around $1,414 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,488 in Lusaka, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,414
Lusaka $1,488

A family of three spends $1,903 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,103 in Lusaka, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,903
Lusaka $2,103

Chiang Mai costs about 6% more than Lusaka, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Chiang Mai and Lusaka are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Lusaka 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.29 ฿76.5

$5.58 ZMW 111

-58.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿656

$29.94 ZMW 595

-34.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.61 ฿188

$4.99 ZMW 99.3

12.42%

Cappuccino

$1.66 ฿55.6

$2.84 ZMW 56.5

-41.55%

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

$0.70 ฿23.40

$0.77 ZMW 15.27

-9.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.24

$0.46 ZMW 9.13

-32.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿80.4

$1.27 ZMW 25.34

89.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 ฿124

$2.30 ZMW 45.73

61.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ฿65.3

$1.69 ZMW 33.64

15.38%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ฿47.03

$1.17 ZMW 23.28

20.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.31 ฿43.62

$2.01 ZMW 39.99

-34.83%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿72.9

$1.96 ZMW 39.04

11.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.65 ฿556

$10.49 ZMW 209

58.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.76 ฿92.2

$6.34 ZMW 126

-56.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.11 ฿304

$6.61 ZMW 131

37.82%

Apples (1kg)

$2.39 ฿80.0

$3.30 ZMW 65.6

-27.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.03 ฿34.26

$2.45 ZMW 48.81

-57.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$3.66 ZMW 72.8

-55.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.0

$1.57 ZMW 31.27

-4.46%

Potato (1kg)

$1.29 ฿43.13

$2.52 ZMW 50.1

-48.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 ฿37.03

$1.79 ZMW 35.66

-37.99%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿24.08

$1.12 ZMW 22.24

-35.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.59

$0.74 ZMW 14.75

-28.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.31 ฿144

$2.94 ZMW 58.5

46.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.95 ฿600

$10.09 ZMW 201

77.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 ฿52.9

$1.42 ZMW 28.21

11.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿95.0

$2.32 ZMW 46.18

22.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 ฿28.86

$0.97 ZMW 19.35

-11.34%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.3 ฿1,780

$50.0 ZMW 995

6.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 ฿40.29

$2.46 ZMW 48.89

-50.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.57 ฿18.99

$1.52 ZMW 30.18

-62.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.35 ฿78.6

$4.99 ZMW 99.2

-52.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.96

$1.51 ZMW 29.99

-4.64%

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

$20.7K ฿692.8K

$7,644 ZMW 152.0K

171.21%

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

$26.8K ฿895.7K

$27.8K ZMW 553.6K

-3.71%

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

$62.3 ฿2,083

$81.7 ZMW 1,626

-23.74%

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

$12.11 ฿405

$10.28 ZMW 204

17.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.94 ฿666

$54.4 ZMW 1,081

-63.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.07 ฿1,239

$55.1 ZMW 1,096

-32.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.78 ฿126

$15.21 ZMW 303

-75.15%

Cinema Ticket

$6.50 ฿217

$6.03 ZMW 120

7.79%

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

$793 ฿26.5K

$139 ZMW 2,774

468.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿494.9K

$16.5K ZMW 328.6K

-10.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.7 ฿1,796

$23.04 ZMW 458

133.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.62 ฿823

$15.19 ZMW 302

62.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.9 ฿3,036

$45.38 ZMW 903

100.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.1 ฿2,378

$72.9 ZMW 1,450

-2.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$455 ฿15.2K

$380 ZMW 7,564

19.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$298 ฿9,954

$177 ZMW 3,513

68.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$908 ฿30.4K

$1,067 ZMW 21.2K

-14.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$554 ฿18.5K

$593 ZMW 11.8K

-6.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,931 ฿64.5K

$1,895 ZMW 37.7K

1.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,445 ฿48.3K

$5,017 ZMW 99.8K

-71.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$591 ฿19.7K

$316 ZMW 6,290

86.82%

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: October 17, 2026

Last update for Lusaka: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$298 32.2%

Lusaka

$177 20.3% 40.7% $121

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$235 25.5%

Lusaka

$238 27.3% 0.9% $2.1

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$108 11.7%

Lusaka

$70 8.1% 34.9% $38

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.2%

Lusaka

$146 16.8% 55.1% $52

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$79 8.5%

Lusaka

$110 12.6% 39.4% $31

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Lusaka

$64 7.3% 5.2% $3.2

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Lusaka

$67 7.7% 34.2% $17

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $455 in Chiang Mai versus $380 in Lusaka. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 87% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $30.00 in Lusaka. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $235 vs $238 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇿🇲 Lusaka

🕒 Local time

18:40 6:40 PM

13:40 1:40 PM

5 h behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

1,742,979 Capital

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Zambian Kwacha ZMW ZK

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.99 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

100 ZMW = 5.03 USD

100 ZMW = 4.47 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 October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Zambian Kwacha exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 19.89 ZMW (100 ZMW = 5.03 USD). 1 EUR = 22.36 ZMW (100 ZMW = 4.47 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai Lusaka 8,620 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Lusaka

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 Lusaka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 6% more than Lusaka, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from clothing. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,388 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,308 in Lusaka. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Lusaka, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $793 per month in Chiang Mai and $139 in Lusaka. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 1% 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 Lusaka, where all-in costs run around $872, than in Chiang Mai at $925. In Lusaka 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. Lusaka costs $872 versus $925 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 Lusaka. 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.