Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Victoria Falls

For one person, living is cheaper in Victoria Falls: $908 a month against $936 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $340 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Chiang Mai outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

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Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$936

/mo nomad

Victoria Falls

🇿🇼 Zimbabwe

$908

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Victoria Falls

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

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $908 in Victoria Falls, rent included.

Chiang Mai $936
Victoria Falls $908

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,479 in Victoria Falls, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,457
Victoria Falls $1,479

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,051 in Victoria Falls, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,979
Victoria Falls $2,051

Chiang Mai costs about 3% more than Victoria Falls, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Chiang Mai and Victoria Falls are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Victoria Falls 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.24 ฿75.6

$10.16 ZWL 270

-77.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.00 ฿641

$45.27 ZWL 1,203

-58.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.55 ฿187

Cappuccino

$1.67 ฿56.5

$5.87 ZWL 156

-71.55%

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

$0.64 ฿21.54

$0.98 ZWL 26.03

-34.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.31

$0.51 ZWL 13.59

-39.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 ฿79.5

$4.92 ZWL 131

-52.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿124

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ฿65.7

$2.04 ZWL 54.1

-4.41%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ฿48.46

$1.03 ZWL 27.31

39.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 ฿45.03

$1.96 ZWL 52.2

-32.14%

Eggs

$2.28 ฿77.1

$3.54 ZWL 94.2

-35.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.45 ฿555

$2.47 ZWL 65.7

565.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.78 ฿93.9

$6.11 ZWL 162

-54.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.31 ฿314

$7.93 ZWL 211

17.40%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 ฿79.4

$3.01 ZWL 80.0

-21.93%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 ฿32.79

$2.99 ZWL 79.3

-67.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 ฿53.9

$2.97 ZWL 78.9

-46.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.6

$3.88 ZWL 103

-61.34%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿43.11

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿37.18

$2.01 ZWL 53.5

-45.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿23.82

$1.99 ZWL 52.8

-64.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.36

$1.54 ZWL 40.97

-68.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 ฿140

$3.49 ZWL 92.7

18.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.52 ฿591

$20.32 ZWL 540

-13.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 ฿54.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿93.9

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ฿29.30

$1.96 ZWL 52.1

-55.61%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.1 ฿1,825

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 ฿39.04

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.80

$0.99 ZWL 26.26

-46.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿81.7

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.88

$1.83 ZWL 48.72

-20.77%

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

$21.1K ฿710.5K

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

$26.9K ฿909.0K

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

$62.2 ฿2,098

$25.48 ZWL 677

144.00%

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

$12.17 ฿411

$24.62 ZWL 654

-50.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ฿679

$68.4 ZWL 1,816

-70.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.31 ฿1,259

$59.7 ZWL 1,585

-37.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿127

$15.03 ZWL 399

-74.92%

Cinema Ticket

$6.49 ฿219

$20.10 ZWL 534

-67.71%

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

$736 ฿24.8K

$101 ZWL 2,697

625.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿498.2K

$5,959 ZWL 158.3K

147.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 ฿1,801

$14.75 ZWL 392

261.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.64 ฿831

$25.41 ZWL 675

-3.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.5 ฿3,087

$60.7 ZWL 1,612

50.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.9 ฿2,427

$45.84 ZWL 1,218

56.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.3K

$250 ZWL 6,654

92.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 ฿10.4K

$178 ZWL 4,738

73.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 ฿33.9K

$491 ZWL 13.0K

104.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$633 ฿21.4K

$348 ZWL 9,258

81.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,363 ฿79.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,589 ฿53.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$590 ฿19.9K

$808 ZWL 21.5K

-27.03%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Last update for Victoria Falls: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$309 33%

Victoria Falls

–

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$234 25.1%

Victoria Falls

–

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$109 11.6%

Victoria Falls

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Victoria Falls

–

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$78 8.3%

Victoria Falls

–

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Victoria Falls

–

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Victoria Falls

–

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Chiang Mai versus $250 in Victoria Falls. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 37% higher in Victoria Falls, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $45 in Victoria Falls. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $234 vs $250 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇿🇼 Victoria Falls

🕒 Local time

16:52 4:52 PM

11:52 11:52 AM

5 h behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

35,215

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Zimbabwean Dollar ZWL $

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

100 ZWL = 3.76 USD

100 ZWL = 3.37 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 November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 33.74 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.65 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Zimbabwean Dollar exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 26.57 ZWL (100 ZWL = 3.76 USD). 1 EUR = 29.65 ZWL (100 ZWL = 3.37 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Chiang Mai Victoria Falls 8,970 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Victoria Falls

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 Victoria Falls: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 3% more than Victoria Falls, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from transport. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,361 in Victoria Falls. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Victoria Falls, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $250 there versus $482 in Chiang Mai.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai and $45 in Victoria Falls. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 6% cheaper in Chiang Mai – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $936 in Chiang Mai and $908 in Victoria Falls, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Victoria Falls – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.