Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Maputo

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $936 a month against $1,127 in Maputo, rent and utilities included – about $2,300 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index
54

Cost of Living Index in Maputo
Learn more

Maputo Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$936

/mo nomad

Maputo

🇲🇿 Mozambique

$1,127

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,127 in Maputo, rent included.

Chiang Mai $936
Maputo $1,127

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,729 in Maputo, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,457
Maputo $1,729

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,331 in Maputo, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,979
Maputo $2,331

Chiang Mai is about 17% cheaper than Maputo, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Chiang Mai and Maputo are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Maputo 17% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.24 ฿75.6

$10.08 MZN 637

-77.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.00 ฿641

$63.4 MZN 4,010

-70.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.55 ฿187

$7.01 MZN 443

-20.83%

Cappuccino

$1.67 ฿56.5

$2.17 MZN 137

-23.04%

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

$0.64 ฿21.54

$0.81 MZN 51.5

-20.99%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.31

$0.69 MZN 43.66

-55.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 ฿79.5

$1.60 MZN 101

47.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿124

$2.39 MZN 151

53.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ฿65.7

$1.60 MZN 101

21.87%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ฿48.46

$0.99 MZN 62.4

45.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 ฿45.03

$1.59 MZN 101

-16.35%

Eggs

$2.28 ฿77.1

$2.47 MZN 156

-7.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.45 ฿555

$20.84 MZN 1,318

-21.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.78 ฿93.9

$5.70 MZN 361

-51.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.31 ฿314

$5.68 MZN 360

63.91%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 ฿79.4

$1.97 MZN 125

19.29%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 ฿32.79

$0.76 MZN 48.10

27.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 ฿53.9

$1.68 MZN 106

-4.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.6

$1.09 MZN 69.0

37.61%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿43.11

$1.00 MZN 63.3

28.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿37.18

$0.81 MZN 51.1

35.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿23.82

$0.98 MZN 62.2

-27.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.36

$0.85 MZN 54.0

-42.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 ฿140

$2.78 MZN 176

48.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.52 ฿591

$10.18 MZN 644

72.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 ฿54.5

$1.01 MZN 64.0

59.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿93.9

$1.29 MZN 81.5

115.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ฿29.30

$0.22 MZN 13.89

295.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.1 ฿1,825

$23.85 MZN 1,508

126.79%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 ฿39.04

$1.60 MZN 101

-27.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.80

$1.19 MZN 75.5

-55.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿81.7

$24.69 MZN 1,562

-90.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.88

$1.36 MZN 86.2

6.62%

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

$21.1K ฿710.5K

$31.3K MZN 2.0M

-32.77%

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

$26.9K ฿909.0K

$23.0K MZN 1.5M

17.16%

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

$62.2 ฿2,098

$70.3 MZN 4,444

-11.51%

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

$12.17 ฿411

$7.64 MZN 483

59.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ฿679

$88.1 MZN 5,573

-77.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.31 ฿1,259

$42.70 MZN 2,701

-12.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿127

$26.59 MZN 1,682

-85.82%

Cinema Ticket

$6.49 ฿219

$7.69 MZN 486

-15.60%

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

$736 ฿24.8K

$174 MZN 11.0K

324.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿498.2K

$5,168 MZN 326.9K

185.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 ฿1,801

$50.2 MZN 3,177

6.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.64 ฿831

$56.0 MZN 3,540

-55.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.5 ฿3,087

$79.6 MZN 5,035

14.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.9 ฿2,427

$79.2 MZN 5,007

-9.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.3K

$547 MZN 34.6K

-11.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 ฿10.4K

$381 MZN 24.1K

-18.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 ฿33.9K

$1,059 MZN 67.0K

-5.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$633 ฿21.4K

$558 MZN 35.3K

13.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,363 ฿79.7K

$4,188 MZN 264.9K

-43.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,589 ฿53.6K

$2,047 MZN 129.5K

-22.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$590 ฿19.9K

$326 MZN 20.6K

80.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-77.72%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Last update for Maputo: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$309 33%

Maputo

$381 33.8% 23.4% $72

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$234 25.1%

Maputo

$224 19.9% 4.6% $11

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$109 11.6%

Maputo

$119 10.6% 9.8% $11

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Maputo

$166 14.7% 75.7% $72

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$78 8.3%

Maputo

$147 13% 88.8% $69

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Maputo

$32 2.9% 47.4% $29

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Maputo

$58 5.2% 15.5% $7.8

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Chiang Mai versus $547 in Maputo. 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 81% 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 in Chiang Mai versus $63 in Maputo. Groceries tell a different story – $234 in Chiang Mai vs $224 in Maputo – so Maputo wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇲🇿 Maputo

🕒 Local time

07:42 7:42 AM

02:42 2:42 AM

5 h behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

1,244,227 Capital

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Mozambican Metical MZN MT

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.65 EUR

100 MZN = 1.58 USD

100 MZN = 1.42 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

MZN, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 33.74 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.67 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

Mozambican Metical exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 63.25 MZN (100 MZN = 1.58 USD). 1 EUR = 70.62 MZN (100 MZN = 1.42 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai Maputo 8,730 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Maputo

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 Maputo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Maputo costs about 20% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. 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 $1,690 in Maputo. 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $482 there versus $547 in Maputo.

Kindergarten costs $736 per month in Chiang Mai and $174 in Maputo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 5% cheaper in Maputo – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value.

$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $936 in Chiang Mai and $1,127 in Maputo. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $936 in Chiang Mai to $1,127 in Maputo. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.