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 $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $722 in Ndola, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,700 in Ndola, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,678 in Ndola, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 20% more than Ndola, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Chiang Mai and Ndola are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Ndola 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$7.10 ZMW 127

-72.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$24.46 ZMW 437

-23.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$3.66 ZMW 65.3

113.66%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$1.94 ZMW 34.61

0.52%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.38 ZMW 6.70

123.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.17 ZMW 3.09

105.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$0.94 ZMW 16.76

126.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$1.84 ZMW 32.88

102.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.24 ZMW 22.15

37.90%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.79 ZMW 14.08

106.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$1.57 ZMW 28.09

-27.39%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$1.26 ZMW 22.58

53.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$7.55 ZMW 135

114.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$3.95 ZMW 70.5

-21.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$4.69 ZMW 83.8

132.41%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$1.23 ZMW 21.87

123.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$1.65 ZMW 29.45

-26.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$2.78 ZMW 49.57

-41.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$1.17 ZMW 20.94

35.90%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$1.80 ZMW 32.20

-22.22%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$1.32 ZMW 23.49

-11.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$0.92 ZMW 16.36

-28.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.51 ZMW 9.12

3.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$2.50 ZMW 44.66

87.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$10.85 ZMW 194

71.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.14 ZMW 20.36

57.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.56 ZMW 27.88

107.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.55 ZMW 9.90

63.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$1.83 ZMW 32.63

-22.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$9.44 ZMW 168

-16.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$1.19 ZMW 21.31

6.72%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$8,120 ZMW 144.9K

162.02%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$28.0K ZMW 500.4K

-20.76%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$91.8 ZMW 1,638

-24.75%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$36.35 ZMW 649

-61.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$124 ZMW 2,206

-85.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$4.06 ZMW 72.5

45.81%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$173 ZMW 3,095

72.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$9,711 ZMW 173.3K

53.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$19.00 ZMW 339

187.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$17.14 ZMW 306

56.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$84.6 ZMW 1,510

0.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$73.2 ZMW 1,307

-3.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$126 ZMW 2,253

239.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$109 ZMW 1,953

116.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$266 ZMW 4,753

200.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$1,481 ZMW 26.4K

-65.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$610 ZMW 10.9K

1.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-80.00%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Ndola: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $126 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 1% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $24.00 in Ndola. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $170 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 20% more than Ndola, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,083 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $24.00 in Ndola. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 45% 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 $866 in Chiang Mai and $722 in Ndola, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ndola costs $722 versus $866 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.