😐A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $291 in Nampula, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $472 in Nampula, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $653 in Nampula, rent included.
😐Chiang Mai costs about 199% more than Nampula, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Nampula are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai35% lower, Nampula78% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Nampula
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.98฿64.3
$4.37MZN 277
-54.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.80฿612
-
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.75฿252
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.92฿62.5
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79฿25.79
$0.88MZN 55.8
-10.23%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36฿11.62
$0.61MZN 38.73
-40.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.21฿72.1
$1.26MZN 79.8
75.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66฿119
$1.60MZN 101
128.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Nampula
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65฿53.8
$1.82MZN 115
-9.34%
White Bread(500g)
$1.63฿53.2
$0.46MZN 28.90
254.35%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.19฿38.86
$1.08MZN 68.3
10.19%
Eggs
$2.00฿65.1
$2.73MZN 172
-26.74%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.98฿520
$9.88MZN 625
61.74%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.03฿98.5
$3.37MZN 213
-10.09%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86฿354
$3.89MZN 246
179.18%
Apples(1kg)
$2.76฿90.0
$2.70MZN 170
2.22%
Banana(1kg)
$1.18฿38.42
$2.41MZN 153
-51.04%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.64฿53.5
$2.04MZN 129
-19.61%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.52฿49.51
$1.58MZN 99.7
-3.80%
Potato(1kg)
$1.38฿45.10
$1.43MZN 90.3
-3.50%
Onion(1kg)
$1.19฿38.84
$1.78MZN 112
-33.15%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.70฿22.86
$0.75MZN 47.75
-6.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56฿18.13
$0.81MZN 51.2
-30.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.58฿149
-
-
Wine(Bottle)
$16.56฿539
$6.28MZN 397
163.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83฿59.5
$2.40MZN 152
-23.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20฿104
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Nampula
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.88฿28.56
$0.17MZN 10.47
417.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.72฿610
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.36฿44.16
$1.52MZN 96.3
-10.53%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.34฿43.65
$2.33MZN 148
-42.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.84฿256
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.23฿39.92
$1.51MZN 95.4
-18.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K฿704.3K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K฿734.3K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Nampula
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.5฿2,298
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.68฿445
-
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.45฿568
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Nampula
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.33฿1,346
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.96฿227
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.77฿188
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Nampula
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$307฿10.0K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.6K฿475.9K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Nampula
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8฿1,817
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.21฿854
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.8฿2,793
$95.1MZN 6,014
-9.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.2฿2,353
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Nampula
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$430฿14.0K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$239฿7,774
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$817฿26.6K
$938MZN 59.3K
-12.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$511฿16.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,983฿64.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,484฿48.3K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Nampula
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$619฿20.2K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
0
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026
Last update for Nampula: June 8, 2026
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 199% more than Nampula, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. 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 vs Nampula?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $436 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 $869 in Chiang Mai and $291 in Nampula. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or Nampula?
Groceries cost about 30% 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.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Chiang Mai or Nampula?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $869 in Chiang Mai and $291 in Nampula, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Nampula?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Nampula costs $291 versus $869 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Nampula?
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.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or Nampula?
If budget matters most, go with Nampula. 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.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared