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 $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $855 in Lusaka, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,450 in Lusaka, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,045 in Lusaka, rent included.

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

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$7.01 ZMW 128

-72.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$24.68 ZMW 449

-25.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$3.70 ZMW 67.3

102.16%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$1.93 ZMW 35.10

4.66%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$0.67 ZMW 12.24

26.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$0.34 ZMW 6.16

5.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

$0.94 ZMW 17.14

127.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$1.84 ZMW 33.48

95.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$1.33 ZMW 24.30

24.06%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$0.80 ZMW 14.63

96.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$1.58 ZMW 28.69

-24.68%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$1.77 ZMW 32.25

9.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$7.92 ZMW 144

104.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$3.78 ZMW 68.8

-20.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$4.74 ZMW 86.2

130.80%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$2.57 ZMW 46.79

5.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$1.57 ZMW 28.62

-25.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$2.71 ZMW 49.35

-37.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$1.16 ZMW 21.15

37.93%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$1.80 ZMW 32.84

-23.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$1.33 ZMW 24.17

-9.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$0.92 ZMW 16.80

-27.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$0.51 ZMW 9.37

9.80%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$2.54 ZMW 46.29

82.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$10.63 ZMW 194

65.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

$1.09 ZMW 19.75

70.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$1.57 ZMW 28.52

110.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

$0.96 ZMW 17.51

-8.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

$39.17 ZMW 713

-50.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$2.78 ZMW 50.7

-51.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

$1.17 ZMW 21.32

14.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$9.20 ZMW 167

-10.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$1.19 ZMW 21.75

2.52%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$7,891 ZMW 143.6K

170.61%

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$28.4K ZMW 517.4K

-20.75%

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$90.7 ZMW 1,651

-22.09%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$53.4 ZMW 972

-73.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$123 ZMW 2,239

-85.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

$45.44 ZMW 827

-7.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$13.65 ZMW 248

-49.60%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$4.25 ZMW 77.4

39.29%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$178 ZMW 3,232

73.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$9,462 ZMW 172.2K

57.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$18.67 ZMW 340

198.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$17.20 ZMW 313

51.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$84.5 ZMW 1,539

-1.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$72.2 ZMW 1,314

-2.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$228 ZMW 4,157

89.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

$125 ZMW 2,273

91.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$1,028 ZMW 18.7K

-20.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$593 ZMW 10.8K

-13.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$1,886 ZMW 34.3K

1.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

$14.2K ZMW 258.2K

-89.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$287 ZMW 5,215

102.21%

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 12, 2026

Last update for Lusaka: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $228 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 102% 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $25.00 in Lusaka. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $178 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

Chiang Mai costs about 1% more than Lusaka, 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 $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,283 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 $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $178 in Lusaka. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 36% 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 $861 in Chiang Mai and $855 in Lusaka, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Lusaka costs $855 versus $861 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.