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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,145 in Maputo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,752 in Maputo, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,358 in Maputo, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 19% cheaper than Maputo, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Maputo are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Maputo 16% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.5

$10.25 MZN 648

-79.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿655

$61.5 MZN 3,891

-68.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$7.14 MZN 451

-20.59%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.3

$2.27 MZN 143

-20.26%

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

$0.77 ฿25.65

$0.83 MZN 52.3

-7.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.53

$0.68 MZN 42.92

-48.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.9

$1.60 MZN 102

38.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

$2.33 MZN 147

62.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.4

$1.58 MZN 100

29.75%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.6

$1.03 MZN 65.2

46.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.69

$1.58 MZN 99.9

-11.39%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

$2.49 MZN 157

-9.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

$20.61 MZN 1,304

-21.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.7

$5.63 MZN 356

-48.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$5.80 MZN 367

62.41%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.4

$1.97 MZN 124

36.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.37

$0.80 MZN 50.7

36.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.0

$1.62 MZN 103

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.74

$1.09 MZN 69.1

33.94%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.65

$1.03 MZN 65.4

24.27%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.31

$0.82 MZN 51.8

29.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.94

$0.98 MZN 62.3

-26.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.56

$0.92 MZN 58.1

-42.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$2.81 MZN 177

50.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿611

$10.11 MZN 639

80.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$1.02 MZN 64.5

59.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.8

$1.27 MZN 80.4

128.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.32

$0.40 MZN 25.37

120.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

$23.29 MZN 1,473

130.87%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.14

$1.60 MZN 101

-26.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.30

$1.14 MZN 72.0

-49.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

$24.31 MZN 1,537

-90.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.41

$1.40 MZN 88.3

3.57%

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

$21.0K ฿701.4K

$31.7K MZN 2.0M

-33.76%

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

$26.4K ฿882.0K

$23.1K MZN 1.5M

14.50%

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

$63.7 ฿2,125

$70.6 MZN 4,467

-9.87%

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

$12.89 ฿430

$7.73 MZN 489

66.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿685

$86.5 MZN 5,471

-76.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,302

$42.45 MZN 2,685

-8.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

$26.45 MZN 1,673

-85.18%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿220

$8.00 MZN 506

-17.75%

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

$784 ฿26.2K

$129 MZN 8,176

506.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

$5,136 MZN 324.9K

185.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,840

$49.81 MZN 3,150

10.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿826

$55.7 MZN 3,524

-55.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,142

$78.7 MZN 4,980

19.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,469

$79.1 MZN 5,005

-6.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

$554 MZN 35.0K

-11.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,620

$383 MZN 24.2K

-24.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.8K

$1,074 MZN 67.9K

-16.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

$568 MZN 35.9K

-8.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

$4,174 MZN 264.0K

-52.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

$2,072 MZN 131.1K

-30.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.1K

$333 MZN 21.1K

80.73%

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: September 13, 2026

Last update for Maputo: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $554 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $62.0 in Maputo. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $224 in Maputo – so Maputo 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 Maputo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Maputo costs about 23% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by 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 $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,718 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. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $129 in Maputo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 8% cheaper in Maputo – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $932, than in Maputo at $1,145. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Maputo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $932 versus $1,145 in Maputo. 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, Maputo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.