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 $296 in Nampula, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $478 in Nampula, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $659 in Nampula, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 188% 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 78% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.2

$4.24 MZN 268

-51.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿624

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿262

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.7

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

$0.80 ฿26.64

$0.88 MZN 55.4

-9.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.68

$0.61 MZN 38.37

-42.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.5

$1.29 MZN 81.3

65.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿122

$1.60 MZN 101

129.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.6

$1.74 MZN 110

-0.57%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.4

$0.48 MZN 30.47

227.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿39.99

$1.07 MZN 67.6

12.15%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿65.8

$2.70 MZN 171

-27.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿541

$10.15 MZN 642

59.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$3.43 MZN 217

-10.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿360

$3.82 MZN 242

182.72%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.3

$2.65 MZN 167

4.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.94

$2.39 MZN 151

-51.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.0

$2.02 MZN 128

-15.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.2

$1.53 MZN 96.5

3.92%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.51

$1.42 MZN 89.8

-2.11%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.56

$1.77 MZN 112

-34.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.05

$0.81 MZN 51.1

-18.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.31

$0.86 MZN 54.7

-39.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿593

$6.11 MZN 386

191.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.6

$2.29 MZN 145

-21.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿111

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.27

$0.18 MZN 11.43

405.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿622

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.04

$1.57 MZN 99.4

-10.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.70

$2.38 MZN 151

-43.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿270

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.16

$1.54 MZN 97.3

-20.13%

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

$21.4K ฿715.1K

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

$21.8K ฿728.0K

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

$71.3 ฿2,379

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

$14.01 ฿467

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿598

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,362

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

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

$308 ฿10.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,860

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿869

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,829

$92.2 MZN 5,833

-8.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,368

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,088

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.6K

$920 MZN 58.2K

-13.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿16.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿48.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Nampula: July 27, 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 188% 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 $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $444 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 $296 in Nampula. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 32% 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 $296 in Nampula, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Nampula costs $296 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.