Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Nampula Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Nampula

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $286 in Nampula, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $466 in Nampula, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $645 in Nampula, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 198% more than Nampula, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chiang Mai and Nampula are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Nampula 79% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$4.31 MZN 275

-54.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$0.82 MZN 52.3

2.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.62 MZN 39.33

-43.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$1.26 MZN 80.5

75.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$1.53 MZN 97.6

148.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.80 MZN 114

-8.89%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$0.45 MZN 28.93

260.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$1.12 MZN 71.4

5.36%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$2.74 MZN 174

-26.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$9.96 MZN 635

59.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$3.48 MZN 222

-13.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$3.82 MZN 243

181.94%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$2.70 MZN 172

-3.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$2.38 MZN 152

-48.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$2.04 MZN 130

-16.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$1.52 MZN 96.8

3.95%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$1.45 MZN 92.6

-8.97%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$1.78 MZN 113

-34.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$0.80 MZN 50.9

-16.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.89 MZN 56.5

-37.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$6.23 MZN 397

192.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$2.37 MZN 151

-22.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$0.14 MZN 8.96

535.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$1.53 MZN 97.4

-11.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$2.33 MZN 148

-42.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$1.55 MZN 98.5

-18.06%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

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

$13.77 ฿450

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

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

$306 ฿10.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$93.9 MZN 5,980

-9.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$948 MZN 60.4K

-13.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Last update for Nampula: April 26, 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

Chiang Mai costs about 198% 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $430 in Nampula. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $852 in Chiang Mai and $286 in Nampula. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 31% 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.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $286 in Nampula, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Nampula costs $286 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 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.