Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Ndola

For one person, living is cheaper in Ndola: $719 a month against $925 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $2,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index
35

Cost of Living Index in Ndola
Learn more

Ndola Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$925

/mo nomad

Ndola

🇿🇲 Zambia

$719

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Ndola

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Ndola actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $925 per month in Chiang Mai vs $719 in Ndola, rent included.

Chiang Mai $925
Ndola $719

A couple spends around $1,414 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,721 in Ndola, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,414
Ndola $1,721

A family of three spends $1,903 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,723 in Ndola, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,903
Ndola $2,723

Chiang Mai costs about 29% more than Ndola, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Chiang Mai and Ndola are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Ndola 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.29 ฿76.5

$5.58 ZMW 111

-58.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿656

$30.02 ZMW 597

-34.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.61 ฿188

$5.00 ZMW 99.4

12.20%

Cappuccino

$1.66 ฿55.6

$2.76 ZMW 54.8

-39.86%

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

$0.70 ฿23.40

$0.52 ZMW 10.25

34.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.24

$0.24 ZMW 4.73

29.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿80.4

$1.22 ZMW 24.31

97.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 ฿124

$2.21 ZMW 44.02

67.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ฿65.3

$1.65 ZMW 32.92

18.18%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ฿47.03

$1.18 ZMW 23.56

19.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.31 ฿43.62

$2.13 ZMW 42.31

-38.50%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿72.9

$1.56 ZMW 31.07

39.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.65 ฿556

$10.15 ZMW 202

64.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.76 ฿92.2

$6.18 ZMW 123

-55.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.11 ฿304

$6.71 ZMW 133

35.77%

Apples (1kg)

$2.39 ฿80.0

$1.47 ZMW 29.27

62.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.03 ฿34.26

$2.41 ZMW 48.00

-57.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$3.74 ZMW 74.3

-56.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.0

$1.54 ZMW 30.72

-2.60%

Potato (1kg)

$1.29 ฿43.13

$2.53 ZMW 50.4

-49.01%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 ฿37.03

$1.80 ZMW 35.84

-38.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿24.08

$1.10 ZMW 21.93

-34.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.59

$0.58 ZMW 11.60

-8.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.31 ฿144

$3.09 ZMW 61.5

39.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.95 ฿600

$9.83 ZMW 196

82.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 ฿52.9

$1.46 ZMW 28.97

8.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿95.0

$2.35 ZMW 46.73

20.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 ฿28.86

$0.72 ZMW 14.29

19.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.3 ฿1,780

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 ฿40.29

$2.57 ZMW 51.2

-52.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.57 ฿18.99

$1.53 ZMW 30.41

-62.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.35 ฿78.6

$5.03 ZMW 100

-53.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.96

$1.35 ZMW 26.78

6.67%

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

$20.7K ฿692.8K

$7,392 ZMW 147.0K

180.43%

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

$26.8K ฿895.7K

$26.9K ZMW 534.7K

-0.31%

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

$62.3 ฿2,083

$80.2 ZMW 1,596

-22.32%

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

$12.11 ฿405

$10.45 ZMW 208

15.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.94 ฿666

$55.2 ZMW 1,098

-63.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.07 ฿1,239

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.78 ฿126

Cinema Ticket

$6.50 ฿217

$6.04 ZMW 120

7.62%

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

$793 ฿26.5K

$135 ZMW 2,692

485.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿494.9K

$16.3K ZMW 324.7K

-9.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.7 ฿1,796

$23.64 ZMW 470

127.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.62 ฿823

$15.39 ZMW 306

59.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.9 ฿3,036

$45.69 ZMW 909

98.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.1 ฿2,378

$71.4 ZMW 1,421

-0.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$455 ฿15.2K

$177 ZMW 3,526

156.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$298 ฿9,954

$148 ZMW 2,948

100.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$908 ฿30.4K

$370 ZMW 7,365

145.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$554 ฿18.5K

$1,482 ZMW 29.5K

-62.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,931 ฿64.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,445 ฿48.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$591 ฿19.7K

$596 ZMW 11.9K

-0.91%

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: October 17, 2026

Last update for Ndola: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$298 32.2%

Ndola

$148 20.6% 50.2% $150

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$235 25.5%

Ndola

$223 31.1% 5.1% $12

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$108 11.7%

Ndola

$70 9.8% 35% $38

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.2%

Ndola

$146 20.3% 54.6% $52

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$79 8.5%

Ndola

$106 14.8% 35.2% $28

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Ndola

$13 * 1.8% 78.5% $48

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Ndola

$12 * 1.7% 75.9% $38

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $455 in Chiang Mai versus $177 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 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $30.00 in Ndola. Groceries tell a different story – $235 in Chiang Mai vs $223 in Ndola – so Ndola wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇿🇲 Ndola

🕒 Local time

21:54 9:54 PM

16:54 4:54 PM

5 h behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

455,194

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Zambian Kwacha ZMW ZK

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.99 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

100 ZMW = 5.03 USD

100 ZMW = 4.47 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

ZMW, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Zambian Kwacha exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 19.89 ZMW (100 ZMW = 5.03 USD). 1 EUR = 22.36 ZMW (100 ZMW = 4.47 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai Ndola 8,480 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Ndola

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 29% more than Ndola, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from transport. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,388 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,079 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 $30.00 in Ndola. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 5% 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 $719, than in Chiang Mai at $925. 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 $719 versus $925 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.