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 $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $742 in Ndola, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,740 in Ndola, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,738 in Ndola, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 16% more than Ndola, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Chiang Mai and Ndola are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Ndola 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$7.08 ZMW 129

-72.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$25.36 ZMW 462

-27.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$3.68 ZMW 67.0

103.26%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$1.96 ZMW 35.69

3.06%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$0.35 ZMW 6.34

142.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$0.18 ZMW 3.25

100.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

$0.88 ZMW 15.98

143.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$1.74 ZMW 31.67

106.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$1.30 ZMW 23.62

26.92%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$0.79 ZMW 14.39

98.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$1.65 ZMW 29.99

-27.88%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$1.32 ZMW 24.09

46.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$7.82 ZMW 142

107.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$3.95 ZMW 71.9

-24.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$4.67 ZMW 85.0

134.26%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$1.23 ZMW 22.38

120.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$1.60 ZMW 29.19

-26.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$2.67 ZMW 48.58

-36.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$1.17 ZMW 21.31

36.75%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$1.82 ZMW 33.14

-24.18%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$1.32 ZMW 24.10

-9.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$0.86 ZMW 15.57

-22.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$0.52 ZMW 9.46

7.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$2.55 ZMW 46.49

81.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$10.79 ZMW 196

63.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

$1.09 ZMW 19.93

70.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$1.58 ZMW 28.83

108.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

$0.56 ZMW 10.19

57.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$1.85 ZMW 33.69

-26.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$9.45 ZMW 172

-13.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$1.23 ZMW 22.37

-0.81%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$7,861 ZMW 143.1K

171.64%

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$28.0K ZMW 510.0K

-19.59%

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$91.3 ZMW 1,662

-22.60%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$36.46 ZMW 664

-61.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$123 ZMW 2,241

-85.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$4.25 ZMW 77.3

39.29%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$178 ZMW 3,240

73.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$9,526 ZMW 173.4K

56.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$18.59 ZMW 338

199.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$17.17 ZMW 312

52.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$84.8 ZMW 1,543

-2.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$73.2 ZMW 1,333

-3.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$126 ZMW 2,295

242.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

$109 ZMW 1,979

119.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$276 ZMW 5,020

198.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$1,485 ZMW 27.0K

-65.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$608 ZMW 11.1K

-4.74%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Ndola: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 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 5% higher in Ndola, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $25.00 in Ndola. Groceries tell a different story – $243 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 16% 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 $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,113 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai and $25.00 in Ndola. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 43% 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 $861 in Chiang Mai and $742 in Ndola, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ndola costs $742 versus $861 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.