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 $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $598 in Masvingo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $987 in Masvingo, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,376 in Masvingo, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 56% more than Masvingo, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Masvingo are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Masvingo 56% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.4

$10.03 ZWL 267

-79.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿654

$39.92 ZWL 1,064

-50.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$5.88 ZWL 157

-3.57%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.2

$3.03 ZWL 80.8

-40.26%

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

$0.77 ฿25.60

$0.98 ZWL 26.22

-21.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.50

$0.53 ZWL 14.00

-33.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.8

$1.49 ZWL 39.66

48.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

$1.96 ZWL 52.3

93.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.2

$1.59 ZWL 42.25

28.93%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.5

$1.03 ZWL 27.53

46.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.61

$1.69 ZWL 45.03

-17.16%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.2

$1.93 ZWL 51.5

17.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

$11.88 ZWL 317

36.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.5

$5.70 ZWL 152

-49.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$6.60 ZWL 176

42.73%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.2

$3.02 ZWL 80.4

-11.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.31

$1.62 ZWL 43.12

-32.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.9

$1.98 ZWL 52.7

-18.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.66

$1.54 ZWL 41.11

-5.19%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.57

$1.72 ZWL 45.88

-25.58%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.25

$1.81 ZWL 48.12

-41.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.90

$1.16 ZWL 31.03

-37.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.53

$1.04 ZWL 27.67

-49.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$2.05 ZWL 54.6

106.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿610

$8.76 ZWL 234

108.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.3

$1.40 ZWL 37.39

16.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.7

$2.01 ZWL 53.6

44.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.26

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,791

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.07

$3.93 ZWL 105

-70.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.26

$1.97 ZWL 52.5

-70.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.5

$5.10 ZWL 136

-53.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.32

$1.86 ZWL 49.57

-22.04%

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

$21.0K ฿700.1K

$21.7K ZWL 577.4K

-3.02%

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

$26.4K ฿880.5K

$27.3K ZWL 727.4K

-3.18%

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

$63.7 ฿2,121

$53.8 ZWL 1,433

18.37%

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

$12.89 ฿430

$21.55 ZWL 574

-40.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿684

$66.1 ZWL 1,762

-68.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,300

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$9.97 ZWL 266

-34.00%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

$466 ZWL 12.4K

68.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿488.9K

$9,100 ZWL 242.5K

61.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,836

$24.67 ZWL 657

123.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿824

$21.57 ZWL 575

14.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,136

$39.25 ZWL 1,046

139.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,464

$41.16 ZWL 1,097

79.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,602

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

13.69

-59.31%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Masvingo: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $40.00 in Masvingo. Groceries tell a different story – $241 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 56% more than Masvingo, 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 $897 in Masvingo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $40.00 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.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Masvingo, where all-in costs run around $598, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Masvingo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Masvingo costs $598 versus $932 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.