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 $920 per month in Chiang Mai vs $591 in Shurugwi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,408 per month in Chiang Mai vs $958 in Shurugwi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,895 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,325 in Shurugwi, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 56% more than Shurugwi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Shurugwi are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 33% lower, Shurugwi 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.11 ฿69.1

$9.93 ZWL 265

-78.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.75 ฿648

$40.18 ZWL 1,071

-50.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.85 ฿192

$5.99 ZWL 160

-2.34%

Cappuccino

$1.76 ฿57.8

$1.71 ZWL 45.67

2.92%

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

$0.74 ฿24.37

$0.93 ZWL 24.87

-20.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ฿10.90

$0.50 ZWL 13.23

-34.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.47 ฿81.0

$1.52 ZWL 40.40

62.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 ฿127

$2.04 ZWL 54.3

90.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ฿62.4

$1.53 ZWL 40.88

24.18%

White Bread (500g)

$1.67 ฿54.7

$0.98 ZWL 26.08

70.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.35 ฿44.24

$1.69 ZWL 45.12

-20.12%

Eggs

$2.14 ฿70.2

$1.89 ZWL 50.4

13.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿521

$11.95 ZWL 319

32.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.83 ฿92.9

$5.71 ZWL 152

-50.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.53 ฿345

$6.76 ZWL 180

55.77%

Apples (1kg)

$2.38 ฿78.2

$3.07 ZWL 82.0

-22.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.01

$1.62 ZWL 43.32

-33.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.79

$1.96 ZWL 52.3

-22.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿49.30

$1.46 ZWL 38.96

2.74%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿41.96

$1.74 ZWL 46.35

-26.44%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.17

$1.79 ZWL 47.84

-38.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 ฿22.54

$1.19 ZWL 31.69

-42.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.18

$1.01 ZWL 26.82

-51.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿140

$2.04 ZWL 54.5

109.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.78 ฿550

$9.25 ZWL 247

81.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 ฿54.4

$1.38 ZWL 36.77

20.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 ฿92.3

$1.98 ZWL 52.8

41.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.44

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.9 ฿1,801

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 ฿39.24

$4.49 ZWL 120

-73.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 ฿17.78

$1.97 ZWL 52.6

-72.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.37 ฿77.9

$5.07 ZWL 135

-53.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 ฿46.88

$1.73 ZWL 46.12

-17.34%

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

$21.1K ฿691.5K

$22.3K ZWL 594.0K

-5.40%

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

$27.1K ฿890.2K

$27.1K ZWL 722.3K

0.14%

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

$64.7 ฿2,124

$54.0 ZWL 1,438

20.00%

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

$13.19 ฿433

$21.26 ZWL 567

-37.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.44 ฿638

$66.1 ZWL 1,763

-70.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.45 ฿1,294

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿124

Cinema Ticket

$6.62 ฿217

$9.84 ZWL 262

-32.72%

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

$805 ฿26.4K

$455 ZWL 12.1K

76.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿496.1K

$9,084 ZWL 242.2K

66.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.8 ฿1,796

$24.12 ZWL 643

126.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.43 ฿834

$21.67 ZWL 578

17.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.9 ฿3,015

$38.82 ZWL 1,035

136.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.7 ฿2,449

$40.49 ZWL 1,079

84.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$467 ฿15.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$282 ฿9,251

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,985 ฿65.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,462 ฿48.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$592 ฿19.4K

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: August 17, 2026

Last update for Shurugwi: August 18, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $40.00 in Shurugwi. Groceries tell a different story – $237 in Chiang Mai vs $219 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 56% more than Shurugwi, with the gap driven mainly by 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 $1,380 per month in Chiang Mai and $887 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 $20.00 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 8% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Shurugwi, where all-in costs run around $591, than in Chiang Mai at $920. In Shurugwi 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. Shurugwi costs $591 versus $920 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.