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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $621 in Masvingo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,117 in Masvingo, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,612 in Masvingo, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 37% more than Masvingo, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Chiang Mai and Masvingo are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Masvingo 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$9.96 ZWL 252

-80.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$51.0 ZWL 1,290

-63.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$6.85 ZWL 173

15.62%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$2.99 ZWL 75.8

-36.12%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$0.66 ZWL 16.76

27.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.43 ZWL 10.93

-18.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$1.47 ZWL 37.15

50.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$1.95 ZWL 49.33

94.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.58 ZWL 39.91

3.80%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$1.02 ZWL 25.70

58.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$1.94 ZWL 49.16

-39.18%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$2.07 ZWL 52.4

-2.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$11.11 ZWL 281

43.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$6.36 ZWL 161

-52.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$6.31 ZWL 160

70.68%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$2.89 ZWL 73.0

-9.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$1.64 ZWL 41.55

-25.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$2.22 ZWL 56.1

-23.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$1.67 ZWL 42.20

-5.39%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$1.50 ZWL 37.83

-12.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$1.98 ZWL 50.0

-40.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$1.03 ZWL 26.08

-34.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$1.01 ZWL 25.61

-44.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$1.13 ZWL 28.52

300.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$8.72 ZWL 221

108.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$1.18 ZWL 29.77

55.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.72 ZWL 43.60

87.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$4.94 ZWL 125

-72.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$1.94 ZWL 49.10

-30.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$5.10 ZWL 129

61.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$1.60 ZWL 40.47

-20.63%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$20.2K ZWL 510.2K

4.92%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$23.3K ZWL 590.6K

-3.68%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$57.7 ZWL 1,460

21.60%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$17.80 ZWL 450

-22.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$90.8 ZWL 2,297

-80.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$10.01 ZWL 253

-42.26%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$281 ZWL 7,117

8.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$7,348 ZWL 185.9K

101.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$19.23 ZWL 486

182.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$21.50 ZWL 544

21.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$35.08 ZWL 888

140.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$41.10 ZWL 1,040

68.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$60.3 ZWL 1,525

602.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$294 ZWL 7,445

180.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$150 ZWL 3,802

242.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.31

-62.43%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Last update for Masvingo: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $60.3 in Masvingo. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $51.0 in Masvingo. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $219 in Masvingo – so Masvingo 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 Masvingo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 37% more than Masvingo, 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 $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $932 in Masvingo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $51.0 in Masvingo. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 11% 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 $852 in Chiang Mai and $621 in Masvingo, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Masvingo costs $621 versus $852 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 Masvingo. 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.