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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $615 in Shurugwi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $990 in Shurugwi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,364 in Shurugwi, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 39% more than Shurugwi, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Chiang Mai and Shurugwi are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Shurugwi 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$9.81 ZWL 248

-80.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$40.49 ZWL 1,024

-53.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$7.14 ZWL 181

10.92%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$1.73 ZWL 43.75

10.40%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$0.72 ZWL 18.18

16.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.44 ZWL 11.13

-20.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$1.47 ZWL 37.08

50.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$2.05 ZWL 51.9

85.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.56 ZWL 39.45

5.13%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$0.97 ZWL 24.55

67.01%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$1.89 ZWL 47.83

-37.57%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$2.11 ZWL 53.3

-4.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$10.79 ZWL 273

47.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$6.54 ZWL 165

-53.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$6.32 ZWL 160

70.41%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$2.90 ZWL 73.5

-10.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$1.67 ZWL 42.28

-26.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$2.21 ZWL 55.8

-23.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$1.70 ZWL 42.99

-7.06%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$1.55 ZWL 39.20

-14.84%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$1.98 ZWL 50.1

-40.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$1.02 ZWL 25.76

-34.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.93 ZWL 23.65

-39.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$1.07 ZWL 27.17

323.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$8.57 ZWL 217

112.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$1.12 ZWL 28.35

63.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.72 ZWL 43.47

87.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$5.03 ZWL 127

-73.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$2.05 ZWL 51.8

-34.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$4.85 ZWL 123

70.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$1.62 ZWL 40.96

-21.60%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$20.0K ZWL 505.5K

5.88%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$23.2K ZWL 586.4K

-2.99%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$58.9 ZWL 1,491

19.06%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$17.53 ZWL 444

-21.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$91.3 ZWL 2,311

-80.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$10.05 ZWL 254

-42.49%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$273 ZWL 6,905

12.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$7,340 ZWL 185.7K

101.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$19.75 ZWL 500

175.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$21.09 ZWL 534

23.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$35.20 ZWL 891

140.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$39.81 ZWL 1,007

74.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.31

-62.43%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Last update for Shurugwi: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $40.00 in Shurugwi. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $217 in Shurugwi – so Shurugwi 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 Shurugwi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 39% more than Shurugwi, 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 $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $923 in Shurugwi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $40.00 in Shurugwi. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 12% 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.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $615 in Shurugwi, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Shurugwi costs $615 versus $852 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 Shurugwi. 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.