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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 3% more expensive than Ndola without rent, and 20% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 18.7% more expensive than Ndola without rent, and 34.5% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Ndola
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.01 ฿64.4
$7.34 ZMW 140
-72.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.23 ฿583
$24.63 ZMW 471
-25.98%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.65 ฿244
$3.69 ZMW 70.6
107.32%
Cappuccino
$1.92 ฿61.3
$1.94 ZMW 37.06
-1.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 ฿26.90
$0.38 ZMW 7.23
121.05%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ฿11.39
$0.19 ZMW 3.69
89.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.19 ฿70.0
$0.95 ZMW 18.15
130.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 ฿121
$1.78 ZMW 33.97
112.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Ndola
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ฿52.4
$1.25 ZMW 23.88
31.20%
White Bread (500g)
$1.62 ฿51.8
$0.74 ZMW 14.12
118.92%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.15 ฿36.88
$1.64 ZMW 31.35
-29.88%
Eggs
$1.94 ฿62.0
$1.33 ZMW 25.41
45.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.94 ฿510
$7.67 ZMW 147
107.82%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.10 ฿99.2
$3.92 ZMW 75.0
-20.92%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.07 ฿354
$4.74 ZMW 90.6
133.54%
Apples (1kg)
$2.71 ฿86.5
$1.23 ZMW 23.53
120.33%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 ฿37.69
$1.59 ZMW 30.41
-25.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ฿54.5
$2.76 ZMW 52.7
-38.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.61 ฿51.3
$1.16 ZMW 22.25
38.79%
Potato (1kg)
$1.39 ฿44.53
$1.90 ZMW 36.28
-26.84%
Onion (1kg)
$1.15 ฿36.70
$1.34 ZMW 25.59
-14.18%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 ฿22.76
$0.93 ZMW 17.83
-23.66%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ฿17.60
$0.51 ZMW 9.82
7.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.57 ฿146
$2.44 ZMW 46.62
87.30%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.87 ฿603
$8.06 ZMW 154
134.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 ฿58.2
$1.14 ZMW 21.86
59.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ฿103
$1.51 ZMW 28.98
112.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Ndola
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 ฿28.16
$0.53 ZMW 10.12
66.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.89 ฿604
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 ฿45.17
$1.85 ZMW 35.36
-23.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.30 ฿41.59
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.20 ฿262
$9.40 ZMW 180
-12.77%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 ฿39.18
$1.20 ZMW 22.93
2.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿677.0K
$8,004 ZMW 153.1K
164.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.3K ฿713.3K
$29.0K ZMW 554.6K
-23.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Ndola
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$69.9 ฿2,234
$91.7 ZMW 1,755
-23.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.07 ฿450
$36.09 ZMW 690
-61.01%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.70 ฿566
$124 ZMW 2,380
-85.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Ndola
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.41 ฿1,324
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.69 ฿214
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.74 ฿184
$4.09 ZMW 78.3
40.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Ndola
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$299 ฿9,566
$175 ZMW 3,340
71.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.0K ฿479.8K
$9,561 ZMW 182.9K
56.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Ndola
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.8 ฿1,753
$19.13 ZMW 366
186.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.35 ฿842
$16.97 ZMW 325
55.27%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.7 ฿2,706
$84.2 ZMW 1,610
0.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.7 ฿2,229
$73.7 ZMW 1,410
-5.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Ndola
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$427 ฿13.6K
$129 ZMW 2,459
232.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$241 ฿7,697
$110 ZMW 2,103
119.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$811 ฿25.9K
$268 ZMW 5,125
202.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ฿15.9K
$1,481 ZMW 28.3K
-66.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,022 ฿64.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,524 ฿48.7K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Ndola
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$639 ฿20.4K
$592 ZMW 11.3K
8.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
25
-80.00%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 13, 2026

Last update for Ndola: April 13, 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

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