Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Masvingo

For one person, living is cheaper in Masvingo: $617 a month against $935 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $3,800 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Chiang Mai outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index
29

Cost of Living Index in Masvingo
Learn more

Masvingo Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$935

/mo nomad

Masvingo

🇿🇼 Zimbabwe

$617

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

A single person spends $935 per month in Chiang Mai vs $617 in Masvingo, rent included.

Chiang Mai $935
Masvingo $617

A couple spends around $1,467 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,025 in Masvingo, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,467
Masvingo $1,025

A family of three spends $1,999 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,432 in Masvingo, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,999
Masvingo $1,432

Chiang Mai costs about 52% more than Masvingo, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Chiang Mai and Masvingo are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Masvingo 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.13 ฿71.2

$12.56 ZWL 333

-83.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.62 ฿622

$45.86 ZWL 1,217

-59.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.60 ฿187

$5.62 ZWL 149

-0.36%

Cappuccino

$1.66 ฿55.5

$3.04 ZWL 80.7

-45.39%

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

$0.65 ฿21.59

$0.84 ZWL 22.38

-22.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ฿10.18

$0.42 ZWL 11.22

-28.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 ฿77.5

$1.23 ZWL 32.75

88.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿122

$1.99 ZWL 52.8

84.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.02 ฿67.3

$1.52 ZWL 40.32

32.89%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ฿47.00

$0.99 ZWL 26.21

42.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.46

$1.60 ZWL 42.44

-13.13%

Eggs

$2.37 ฿79.0

$1.94 ZWL 51.4

22.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.52 ฿551

$11.56 ZWL 307

42.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.67 ฿89.1

$5.50 ZWL 146

-51.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.02 ฿301

$6.89 ZWL 183

30.91%

Apples (1kg)

$2.40 ฿80.1

$3.17 ZWL 84.1

-24.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 ฿34.76

$1.69 ZWL 44.89

-38.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.66 ฿55.4

$2.07 ZWL 54.8

-19.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 ฿52.0

$1.56 ZWL 41.42

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.31

$1.70 ZWL 45.10

-27.06%

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.27

$1.53 ZWL 40.48

-28.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 ฿25.43

$1.29 ZWL 34.20

-41.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿17.16

$0.98 ZWL 26.14

-47.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.12 ฿138

$1.79 ZWL 47.63

130.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.93 ฿598

$8.31 ZWL 221

115.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 ฿54.2

$1.36 ZWL 36.14

19.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 ฿94.2

$1.86 ZWL 49.44

51.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿31.19

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$52.9 ฿1,766

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ฿39.28

$4.03 ZWL 107

-70.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.17 ฿5.72

$1.95 ZWL 51.7

-91.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 ฿60.5

$4.93 ZWL 131

-63.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ฿49.16

$1.80 ZWL 47.68

-18.33%

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

$21.0K ฿701.4K

$21.8K ZWL 579.7K

-3.79%

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

$26.5K ฿885.1K

$27.4K ZWL 727.5K

-3.27%

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

$62.6 ฿2,088

$50.7 ZWL 1,345

23.44%

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

$11.60 ฿387

$21.61 ZWL 573

-46.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.30 ฿678

$71.6 ZWL 1,900

-71.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.88 ฿1,264

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.70 ฿123

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 ฿217

$9.96 ZWL 264

-34.64%

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

$727 ฿24.3K

$420 ZWL 11.2K

73.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.6K ฿553.2K

$16.9K ZWL 447.4K

-1.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.5 ฿1,787

$21.66 ZWL 575

147.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.80 ฿828

$20.40 ZWL 541

21.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.4 ฿3,017

$36.83 ZWL 978

145.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.0 ฿2,402

$40.69 ZWL 1,080

76.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$481 ฿16.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$310 ฿10.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,058 ฿35.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$659 ฿22.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,418 ฿80.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,609 ฿53.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

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: November 1, 2026

Last update for Masvingo: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$310 33.1%

Masvingo

- * 0% 100%

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$237 25.3%

Masvingo

$216 35.1% 8.6% $20

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$108 11.6%

Masvingo

$54 8.7% 50.3% $55

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Masvingo

$144 23.3% 52.3% $49

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$77 8.2%

Masvingo

$169 27.4% 121% $93

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$59 6.3%

Masvingo

$14 * 2.2% 76.5% $45

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$51 5.4%

Masvingo

$20 * 3.2% 60.8% $31

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $46 in Masvingo. Groceries tell a different story – $237 in Chiang Mai vs $216 in Masvingo – so Masvingo wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇿🇼 Masvingo

🕒 Local time

23:16 11:16 PM

18:16 6:16 PM

5 h behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

72,527

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Zimbabwean Dollar ZWL $

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 3 USD

100 THB = 2.67 EUR

100 ZWL = 3.77 USD

100 ZWL = 3.35 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

ZWL, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 33.38 THB (100 THB = 3 USD). 1 EUR = 37.51 THB (100 THB = 2.67 EUR).

Zimbabwean Dollar exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 26.54 ZWL (100 ZWL = 3.77 USD). 1 EUR = 29.82 ZWL (100 ZWL = 3.35 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai Masvingo 8,590 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Masvingo

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 Masvingo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 52% more than Masvingo, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from clothing. 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 $925 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 $19 in Chiang Mai and $46 in Masvingo. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 9% more in Chiang Mai, though the gap depends on what you buy.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $935 in Chiang Mai and $617 in Masvingo, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $617 in Masvingo to $935 in Chiang Mai. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.