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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $876 in Lusaka, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,489 in Lusaka, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,103 in Lusaka, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 1% cheaper than Lusaka, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Chiang Mai and Lusaka are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Lusaka 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$7.11 ZMW 127

-72.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$24.96 ZMW 446

-25.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$3.63 ZMW 64.8

115.43%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$2.01 ZMW 35.86

-2.99%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.73 ZMW 13.05

16.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.34 ZMW 6.04

2.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$0.96 ZMW 17.05

121.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$1.82 ZMW 32.42

104.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.26 ZMW 22.53

35.71%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.74 ZMW 13.16

120.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$1.58 ZMW 28.26

-27.85%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$1.77 ZMW 31.65

9.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$7.86 ZMW 140

106.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$3.83 ZMW 68.4

-18.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$4.57 ZMW 81.6

138.51%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$2.50 ZMW 44.69

10.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$1.58 ZMW 28.28

-23.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$2.69 ZMW 47.96

-39.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$1.17 ZMW 20.91

35.90%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$1.87 ZMW 33.43

-25.13%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$1.38 ZMW 24.63

-15.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$0.87 ZMW 15.54

-24.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.52 ZMW 9.30

1.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$2.54 ZMW 45.39

84.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$10.95 ZMW 195

70.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.13 ZMW 20.24

59.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.50 ZMW 26.75

115.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.96 ZMW 17.11

-6.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$38.24 ZMW 683

-49.76%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$2.79 ZMW 49.72

-49.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$1.15 ZMW 20.50

12.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$8.92 ZMW 159

-12.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$1.19 ZMW 21.29

6.72%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$7,968 ZMW 142.2K

167.05%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$28.4K ZMW 506.8K

-21.76%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$90.1 ZMW 1,608

-23.32%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$53.6 ZMW 956

-73.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$127 ZMW 2,263

-85.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$45.11 ZMW 805

-8.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$13.99 ZMW 250

-50.25%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$4.29 ZMW 76.6

38.00%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$177 ZMW 3,161

68.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$9,528 ZMW 170.1K

56.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$19.25 ZMW 344

184.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$17.27 ZMW 308

55.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$86.0 ZMW 1,535

-1.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$73.7 ZMW 1,316

-4.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$224 ZMW 4,007

90.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$120 ZMW 2,148

97.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$1,053 ZMW 18.8K

-23.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$585 ZMW 10.4K

-11.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$1,973 ZMW 35.2K

0.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$4,281 ZMW 76.4K

-65.54%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$296 ZMW 5,286

108.50%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Lusaka: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $224 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 108% higher in Chiang Mai, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $25.00 in Lusaka. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $177 in Lusaka – so Lusaka 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 Lusaka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lusaka costs about 1% more than Chiang Mai, 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,313 in Lusaka. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $177 in Lusaka. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 39% cheaper in Lusaka – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $876 in Lusaka, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $876 in Lusaka. 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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lusaka makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.