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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $751 in Ndola, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,768 in Ndola, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,784 in Ndola, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 26% more than Ndola, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chiang Mai and Ndola are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Ndola 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.5

$5.75 ZMW 110

-63.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿646

$31.73 ZMW 608

-38.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿186

$5.13 ZMW 98.2

10.14%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.3

$2.89 ZMW 55.4

-37.37%

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

$0.71 ฿23.44

$0.56 ZMW 10.63

26.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.38

$0.25 ZMW 4.75

28.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿73.5

$1.29 ZMW 24.64

73.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿119

$2.35 ZMW 45.02

54.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿64.4

$1.74 ZMW 33.29

12.64%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.38

$1.19 ZMW 22.76

26.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.92

$2.14 ZMW 41.01

-37.38%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿74.4

$1.65 ZMW 31.56

36.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿534

$10.73 ZMW 205

51.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.1

$6.47 ZMW 124

-54.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿327

$6.81 ZMW 130

45.96%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿84.5

$1.59 ZMW 30.49

61.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿34.72

$2.51 ZMW 48.00

-57.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.0

$3.76 ZMW 72.0

-57.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.96

$1.65 ZMW 31.61

-7.88%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿41.76

$2.61 ZMW 49.89

-51.34%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.05

$1.95 ZMW 37.32

-45.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.67

$1.16 ZMW 22.22

-37.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.72

$0.66 ZMW 12.54

-22.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿138

$3.12 ZMW 59.7

34.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿587

$10.45 ZMW 200

71.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿55.7

$1.52 ZMW 29.17

11.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿93.2

$2.42 ZMW 46.43

17.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.42

$0.75 ZMW 14.41

24.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,770

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.58

$2.60 ZMW 49.81

-52.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿18.96

$1.56 ZMW 29.85

-62.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿79.7

$5.22 ZMW 99.9

-53.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.42

$1.47 ZMW 28.20

-4.08%

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

$21.4K ฿704.9K

$7,874 ZMW 150.8K

172.35%

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

$27.3K ฿898.5K

$27.2K ZMW 520.4K

0.58%

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

$63.7 ฿2,093

$84.6 ZMW 1,620

-24.73%

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

$12.85 ฿423

$10.89 ZMW 209

18.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿665

$57.9 ZMW 1,109

-65.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,274

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿221

$6.17 ZMW 118

9.24%

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

$778 ฿25.6K

$143 ZMW 2,732

445.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿480.2K

$16.7K ZMW 320.4K

-12.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,785

$24.07 ZMW 461

125.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿836

$16.45 ZMW 315

54.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,101

$47.47 ZMW 909

98.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,414

$75.9 ZMW 1,453

-3.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.1K

$181 ZMW 3,474

169.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,510

$157 ZMW 3,009

84.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.4K

$388 ZMW 7,439

130.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.0K

$1,519 ZMW 29.1K

-65.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿48.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿19.8K

$591 ZMW 11.3K

1.94%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-80.79%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Last update for Ndola: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $181 in Ndola. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 2% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $32.00 in Ndola. Groceries tell a different story – $240 in Chiang Mai vs $233 in Ndola – so Ndola wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Ndola: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 26% more than Ndola, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,421 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,127 in Ndola. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ndola, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $32.00 in Ndola. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 3% 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.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ndola, where all-in costs run around $751, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Ndola it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ndola costs $751 versus $947 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 Ndola. 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.