Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Redcliff

For one person, living is cheaper in Redcliff: $593 a month against $925 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $4,000 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
29

Cost of Living Index in Redcliff
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Redcliff Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$925

/mo nomad

Redcliff

🇿🇼 Zimbabwe

$593

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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 Redcliff actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $925 per month in Chiang Mai vs $593 in Redcliff, rent included.

Chiang Mai $925
Redcliff $593

A couple spends around $1,414 per month in Chiang Mai vs $983 in Redcliff, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,414
Redcliff $983

A family of three spends $1,903 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,373 in Redcliff, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,903
Redcliff $1,373

Chiang Mai costs about 56% more than Redcliff, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Chiang Mai and Redcliff are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Redcliff 56% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.29 ฿76.5

$9.88 ZWL 263

-76.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿656

$44.28 ZWL 1,178

-55.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.61 ฿188

$5.60 ZWL 149

0.18%

Cappuccino

$1.66 ฿55.6

$3.01 ZWL 80.2

-44.85%

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

$0.70 ฿23.40

$0.98 ZWL 26.15

-28.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.24

$0.45 ZWL 11.90

-31.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿80.4

$1.28 ZWL 34.12

88.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 ฿124

$1.94 ZWL 51.7

91.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ฿65.3

$1.50 ZWL 39.83

30.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ฿47.03

$0.97 ZWL 25.86

45.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.31 ฿43.62

$1.73 ZWL 45.93

-24.28%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿72.9

$1.91 ZWL 50.7

14.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.65 ฿556

$11.36 ZWL 302

46.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.76 ฿92.2

$5.48 ZWL 146

-49.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.11 ฿304

$6.51 ZWL 173

39.94%

Apples (1kg)

$2.39 ฿80.0

$2.98 ZWL 79.2

-19.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.03 ฿34.26

$1.62 ZWL 43.21

-36.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$1.99 ZWL 53.0

-18.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.0

$1.53 ZWL 40.66

-1.96%

Potato (1kg)

$1.29 ฿43.13

$1.71 ZWL 45.43

-24.56%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 ฿37.03

$1.77 ZWL 47.17

-37.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿24.08

$1.28 ZWL 34.14

-43.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.59

$1.00 ZWL 26.63

-47.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.31 ฿144

$2.03 ZWL 54.0

112.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.95 ฿600

$8.09 ZWL 215

121.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 ฿52.9

$1.40 ZWL 37.16

12.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿95.0

$1.98 ZWL 52.6

43.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 ฿28.86

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.3 ฿1,780

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 ฿40.29

$3.95 ZWL 105

-69.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.57 ฿18.99

$2.05 ZWL 54.5

-72.20%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.35 ฿78.6

$4.89 ZWL 130

-51.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.96

$1.87 ZWL 49.82

-22.99%

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

$20.7K ฿692.8K

$21.6K ZWL 575.7K

-4.18%

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

$26.8K ฿895.7K

$27.0K ZWL 719.6K

-0.90%

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

$62.3 ฿2,083

$50.7 ZWL 1,348

23.01%

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

$12.11 ฿405

$21.61 ZWL 575

-43.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.94 ฿666

$69.2 ZWL 1,842

-71.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.07 ฿1,239

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.78 ฿126

Cinema Ticket

$6.50 ฿217

$10.16 ZWL 270

-36.02%

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

$793 ฿26.5K

$429 ZWL 11.4K

84.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿494.9K

$8,385 ZWL 223.1K

76.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.7 ฿1,796

$23.04 ZWL 613

133.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.62 ฿823

$21.53 ZWL 573

14.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.9 ฿3,036

$39.43 ZWL 1,049

130.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.1 ฿2,378

$40.34 ZWL 1,074

76.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$455 ฿15.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$298 ฿9,954

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$908 ฿30.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$554 ฿18.5K

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

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

13.69

-59.31%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 17, 2026

Last update for Redcliff: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$298 32.2%

Redcliff

- * 0% 100%

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$235 25.5%

Redcliff

$213 36% 9.4% $22

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$108 11.7%

Redcliff

$56 9.4% 48.3% $52

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.2%

Redcliff

$141 23.9% 49.9% $47

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$79 8.5%

Redcliff

$148 24.9% 88.3% $69

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Redcliff

$14 * 2.4% 76.7% $47

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Redcliff

$20 * 3.4% 59.4% $30

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

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $44.00 in Redcliff. Groceries tell a different story – $235 in Chiang Mai vs $213 in Redcliff – so Redcliff wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇿🇼 Redcliff

🕒 Local time

19:03 7:03 PM

14:03 2:03 PM

5 h behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

32,346

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Zimbabwean Dollar ZWL $

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.99 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

100 ZWL = 3.76 USD

100 ZWL = 3.34 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

ZWL, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 24, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Zimbabwean Dollar exchange rates as of October 24, 2026: 1 USD = 26.61 ZWL (100 ZWL = 3.76 USD). 1 EUR = 29.92 ZWL (100 ZWL = 3.34 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai Redcliff 8,640 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Redcliff

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 Redcliff: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 56% more than Redcliff, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. 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 $890 in Redcliff. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $44.00 in Redcliff. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 10% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Redcliff, where all-in costs run around $593, than in Chiang Mai at $925. In Redcliff 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. Redcliff costs $593 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 Redcliff. 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.