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 $848 per month in Chiang Mai vs $616 in Shurugwi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,331 per month in Chiang Mai vs $991 in Shurugwi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,814 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,365 in Shurugwi, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 38% 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 ฿64.1

$9.83 ZWL 263

-80.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.39 ฿603

$40.27 ZWL 1,078

-54.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.87 ฿258

$6.90 ZWL 185

14.06%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.9

$1.73 ZWL 46.42

12.72%

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

$0.85 ฿27.80

$0.71 ZWL 18.95

19.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.61

$0.46 ZWL 12.35

-30.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿70.2

$1.54 ZWL 41.19

38.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 ฿121

$1.96 ZWL 52.6

87.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ฿54.4

$1.64 ZWL 43.79

1.22%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 ฿51.1

$0.98 ZWL 26.33

59.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.95

$1.90 ZWL 50.8

-37.37%

Eggs

$1.99 ฿65.2

$2.15 ZWL 57.6

-7.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.24 ฿532

$10.75 ZWL 288

51.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ฿104

$6.55 ZWL 175

-51.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.84 ฿355

$6.51 ZWL 174

66.51%

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 ฿87.0

$3.03 ZWL 81.2

-12.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿40.00

$1.71 ZWL 45.69

-28.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 ฿54.1

$2.21 ZWL 59.1

-25.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 ฿50.7

$1.72 ZWL 45.95

-9.88%

Potato (1kg)

$1.33 ฿43.53

$1.55 ZWL 41.47

-14.19%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.75

$2.00 ZWL 53.4

-39.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ฿22.22

$0.97 ZWL 25.83

-29.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ฿18.54

$1.01 ZWL 26.95

-43.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.68 ฿154

$1.12 ZWL 29.99

317.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.99 ฿557

$9.25 ZWL 248

83.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 ฿59.8

$1.16 ZWL 31.15

56.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ฿104

$1.80 ZWL 48.09

76.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿29.70

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.74 ฿614

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿46.18

$5.08 ZWL 136

-72.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.88

$1.94 ZWL 52.0

-30.93%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.14 ฿267

$5.08 ZWL 136

60.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 ฿41.88

$1.53 ZWL 41.07

-16.34%

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

$21.8K ฿715.2K

$19.8K ZWL 530.8K

10.08%

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

$22.4K ฿734.1K

$23.4K ZWL 625.9K

-4.19%

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

$70.5 ฿2,310

$58.8 ZWL 1,574

19.86%

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

$14.05 ฿460

$17.54 ZWL 470

-19.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.65 ฿578

$93.6 ZWL 2,507

-81.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.29 ฿1,353

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.76 ฿222

Cinema Ticket

$5.96 ฿195

$9.88 ZWL 264

-39.68%

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

$303 ฿9,928

$275 ZWL 7,360

10.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿490.2K

$7,201 ZWL 192.8K

107.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,793

$19.30 ZWL 517

183.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.29 ฿861

$21.20 ZWL 567

24.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,811

$34.99 ZWL 937

145.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.7 ฿2,284

$40.24 ZWL 1,077

73.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,834

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$811 ฿26.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$510 ฿16.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,025 ฿66.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,502 ฿49.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$623 ฿20.4K

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: June 13, 2026

Last update for Shurugwi: June 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $40.00 in Shurugwi. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $222 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 38% 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 $1,272 per month in Chiang Mai and $924 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 $18.00 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 9% 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 $848 in Chiang Mai and $616 in Shurugwi, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Shurugwi costs $616 versus $848 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.