Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Zambia

For one person, living costs are similar in Chiang Mai and in Zambia: $906 and $905 a month, rent and utilities included.

Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$906
/mo nomad
🇿🇲 Zambia
$905
/mo nomad
🙂 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 13.2% cheaper than Zambia without rent, and 0.1% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 14.5% cheaper than Zambia without rent, and 19.8% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Zambia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.13 ฿71.4
$6.84 ZMW 136
-68.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.40 ฿649
$30.13 ZMW 597
-35.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.47 ฿183
$5.20 ZMW 103
5.19%
Cappuccino
$1.68 ฿56.4
$3.03 ZMW 60.1
-44.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66 ฿22.10
$0.78 ZMW 15.38
-15.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 ฿11.52
$0.49 ZMW 9.72
-30.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.42 ฿81.0
$1.30 ZMW 25.73
86.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿125
$2.53 ZMW 50.3
47.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Zambia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.06 ฿68.9
$1.88 ZMW 37.25
9.57%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 ฿48.78
$1.23 ZMW 24.32
18.70%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.35 ฿45.09
$2.44 ZMW 48.42
-44.67%
Eggs
$2.27 ฿76.0
$1.84 ZMW 36.42
23.37%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.31 ฿546
$10.44 ZMW 207
56.23%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.70 ฿90.3
$6.54 ZMW 130
-58.72%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.20 ฿308
$6.13 ZMW 122
50.08%
Apples (1kg)
$2.39 ฿80.1
$3.48 ZMW 68.9
-31.32%
Banana (1kg)
$1.04 ฿34.66
$2.14 ZMW 42.42
-51.40%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 ฿53.7
$3.51 ZMW 69.5
-54.42%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.44 ฿48.37
$1.57 ZMW 31.15
-8.28%
Potato (1kg)
$1.30 ฿43.59
$2.81 ZMW 55.7
-53.74%
Onion (1kg)
$1.11 ฿37.29
$1.90 ZMW 37.77
-41.58%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.70 ฿23.55
$1.15 ZMW 22.88
-39.13%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.99
$0.71 ZMW 14.09
-28.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.13 ฿138
$2.84 ZMW 56.3
45.42%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.78 ฿595
$10.13 ZMW 201
75.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 ฿54.7
$1.41 ZMW 27.94
15.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 ฿96.0
$2.10 ZMW 41.62
36.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Zambia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 ฿28.76
$0.98 ZMW 19.52
-12.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.2 ฿1,780
$50.2 ZMW 995
5.98%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.22 ฿40.81
$2.57 ZMW 50.9
-52.53%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.56 ฿18.81
$1.69 ZMW 33.60
-66.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.31 ฿77.5
$8.94 ZMW 177
-74.16%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.50 ฿50.2
$1.46 ZMW 28.88
2.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.9K ฿698.3K
$6,225 ZMW 123.4K
235.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿895.0K
$38.8K ZMW 768.5K
-31.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Zambia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$61.3 ฿2,051
$89.7 ZMW 1,778
-31.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.50 ฿419
$10.95 ZMW 217
14.16%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.36 ฿682
$58.9 ZMW 1,169
-65.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Zambia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.94 ฿1,270
$50.3 ZMW 998
-24.59%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.77 ฿126
$16.39 ZMW 325
-77.00%
Cinema Ticket
$6.60 ฿221
$6.80 ZMW 135
-2.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Zambia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$774 ฿25.9K
$142 ZMW 2,821
444.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.4K ฿483.2K
$16.8K ZMW 333.1K
-14.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Zambia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.8 ฿1,835
$24.56 ZMW 487
123.13%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.26 ฿846
$14.64 ZMW 290
72.54%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.6 ฿3,032
$59.2 ZMW 1,174
52.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.3 ฿2,453
$75.9 ZMW 1,505
-3.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Zambia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$459 ฿15.4K
$453 ZMW 8,980
1.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$294 ฿9,835
$174 ZMW 3,443
69.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$919 ฿30.8K
$1,074 ZMW 21.3K
-14.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$552 ฿18.5K
$720 ZMW 14.3K
-23.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,917 ฿64.2K
$3,941 ZMW 78.1K
-51.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,445 ฿48.4K
$6,414 ZMW 127.2K
-77.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Zambia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$592 ฿19.8K
$428 ZMW 8,485
38.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
26.25
-78.78%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 5, 2026

Last update for Zambia: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$294
Zambia
$174 40.9% $120
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$236
Zambia
$240 1.5% $3.6
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$110
Zambia
$78 28.5% $31
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$94
Zambia
$160 69.5% $65
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$77
Zambia
$123 59.6% $46
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$61
Zambia
$65 7.4% $4.5
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$51
Zambia
$64 25% $13
Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇿🇲 Zambia
🕒 Local time
16:52 4:52 PM
11:52 11:52 AM
5 h behind Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
19,610,769
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

ZMW, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 33.48 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.52 THB (100 THB = 2.67 EUR).

Zambian Kwacha exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 19.83 ZMW (100 ZMW = 5.04 USD). 1 EUR = 22.22 ZMW (100 ZMW = 4.5 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Mai Zambia 8,620 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • Zambia

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

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