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 $619 in Masvingo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,111 in Masvingo, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,604 in Masvingo, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 38% 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

$2.04 ฿68.2

$9.86 ZWL 263

-79.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿624

$50.9 ZWL 1,358

-63.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿262

$7.09 ZWL 189

10.86%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.7

$2.98 ZWL 79.5

-31.88%

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

$0.80 ฿26.64

$0.71 ZWL 18.94

12.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.68

$0.46 ZWL 12.32

-23.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.5

$1.46 ZWL 38.90

46.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿122

$2.02 ZWL 54.0

81.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.6

$1.56 ZWL 41.56

10.90%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.4

$1.02 ZWL 27.19

53.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿39.99

$1.95 ZWL 52.1

-38.46%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿65.8

$2.07 ZWL 55.1

-4.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿541

$11.04 ZWL 295

47.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$6.54 ZWL 174

-53.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿360

$6.58 ZWL 176

64.13%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.3

$2.87 ZWL 76.6

-3.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.94

$1.64 ZWL 43.76

-28.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.0

$2.27 ZWL 60.6

-24.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.2

$1.70 ZWL 45.42

-6.47%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.51

$1.56 ZWL 41.68

-10.90%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.56

$1.98 ZWL 52.8

-41.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.05

$1.02 ZWL 27.20

-35.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.31

$0.97 ZWL 25.84

-46.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$1.09 ZWL 28.96

326.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿593

$9.77 ZWL 261

81.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.6

$1.13 ZWL 30.11

58.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿111

$1.74 ZWL 46.39

91.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.27

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿622

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.04

$4.87 ZWL 130

-71.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.70

$1.95 ZWL 52.0

-31.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿270

$4.87 ZWL 130

66.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.16

$1.62 ZWL 43.21

-24.07%

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

$21.4K ฿715.1K

$19.9K ZWL 531.2K

7.67%

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

$21.8K ฿728.0K

$23.6K ZWL 628.7K

-7.40%

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

$71.3 ฿2,379

$57.7 ZWL 1,539

23.67%

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

$14.01 ฿467

$17.62 ZWL 470

-20.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿598

$93.7 ZWL 2,499

-80.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,362

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$9.90 ZWL 264

-42.22%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$275 ZWL 7,335

12.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.7K

$7,208 ZWL 192.3K

103.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,860

$19.12 ZWL 510

191.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿869

$20.96 ZWL 559

24.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,829

$34.80 ZWL 928

143.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,368

$40.56 ZWL 1,082

75.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.1K

$60.2 ZWL 1,607

602.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,088

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.6K

$297 ZWL 7,916

168.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿16.9K

$148 ZWL 3,950

242.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿48.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Masvingo: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $60.2 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 – $244 in Chiang Mai vs $222 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 38% 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 $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $928 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 10% 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 $619 in Masvingo, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Masvingo costs $619 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.