Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Nampula

For one person, living is cheaper in Nampula: $531 a month against $936 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $4,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Chiang Mai, Thailand
Nampula, Mozambique
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$936
/mo nomad
Nampula
🇲🇿 Mozambique
$531
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $531 in Nampula, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $936
  • Nampula $531

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $707 in Nampula, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,457
  • Nampula $707

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $882 in Nampula, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,979
  • Nampula $882

Chiang Mai costs about 76% more than Nampula, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Nampula are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Nampula 61% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Nampula
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.24 ฿75.6
$5.63 MZN 356
-60.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.00 ฿641
-
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.55 ฿187
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.67 ฿56.5
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 ฿21.55
$0.76 MZN 48.20
-15.79%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ฿10.31
$0.41 MZN 25.83
-24.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.36 ฿79.6
$1.54 MZN 97.3
53.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 ฿124
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Nampula
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.95 ฿65.8
$1.47 MZN 92.7
32.65%
White Bread (500g)
$1.44 ฿48.48
$0.45 MZN 28.38
220.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 ฿45.04
$1.07 MZN 67.7
24.30%
Eggs
$2.28 ฿77.1
$1.90 MZN 120
20.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.45 ฿555
$9.92 MZN 627
65.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.78 ฿93.9
$3.51 MZN 222
-20.80%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.31 ฿314
$3.80 MZN 241
145.00%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 ฿79.4
$3.17 MZN 201
-25.87%
Banana (1kg)
$0.97 ฿32.80
$3.17 MZN 200
-69.40%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 ฿53.9
$2.04 MZN 129
-21.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.6
$0.92 MZN 58.2
63.04%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 ฿43.12
$1.45 MZN 92.0
-11.72%
Onion (1kg)
$1.10 ฿37.19
$1.69 MZN 107
-34.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 ฿23.82
$0.74 MZN 46.50
-4.05%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.37
$0.89 MZN 56.5
-44.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.14 ฿140
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$17.52 ฿591
$6.29 MZN 398
178.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61 ฿54.5
$2.33 MZN 147
-30.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ฿94.0
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Nampula
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.87 ฿29.31
$0.18 MZN 11.64
383.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$54.1 ฿1,826
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.16 ฿39.06
$1.57 MZN 99.3
-26.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 ฿17.80
$2.38 MZN 151
-77.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.42 ฿81.8
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.90
$1.54 MZN 97.4
-5.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1K ฿710.7K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K ฿909.3K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Nampula
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.2 ฿2,098
$117 MZN 7,399
-46.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.17 ฿411
$34.16 MZN 2,161
-64.37%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.12 ฿679
$125 MZN 7,930
-83.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Nampula
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.31 ฿1,259
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.77 ฿127
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.49 ฿219
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Nampula
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$736 ฿24.8K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿498.3K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Nampula
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.4 ฿1,801
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.64 ฿831
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.5 ฿3,087
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.9 ฿2,428
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Nampula
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$482 ฿16.3K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 ฿10.4K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,006 ฿33.9K
$944 MZN 59.7K
6.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$633 ฿21.4K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,363 ฿79.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,589 ฿53.6K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Nampula
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$590 ฿19.9K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
0
-

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Last update for Nampula: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$309
Nampula
–
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$234
Nampula
–
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$109
Nampula
–
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$94
Nampula
–
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$78
Nampula
–
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$61
Nampula
–
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$50
Nampula
–
Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇲🇿 Nampula
🕒 Local time
07:59 7:59 AM
02:59 2:59 AM
5 h behind Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
477,900
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

MZN, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 33.75 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.68 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

Mozambican Metical exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 63.25 MZN (100 MZN = 1.58 USD). 1 EUR = 70.62 MZN (100 MZN = 1.42 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Mai Nampula 7,550 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • Nampula

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 Nampula: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Nampula?
Chiang Mai costs about 76% more than Nampula, 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai and in Nampula?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $797 in Nampula. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How much does it cost to live in Chiang Mai compared to Nampula?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $936 in Chiang Mai and $531 in Nampula. That makes Nampula about 43% cheaper.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or in Nampula?
Groceries cost about 28% more in Chiang Mai, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Chiang Mai or Nampula?
It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $531 in Nampula to $936 in Chiang Mai. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?