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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 61.9% more expensive than Zanzibar without rent, and 92.7% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 44.8% more expensive than Zanzibar without rent, and 88.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Zanzibar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.02 ฿65.3
$4.75 TZS 12.2K
-57.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.78 ฿608
$21.88 TZS 56K
-14.17%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.67 ฿248
$5.82 TZS 14.9K
31.79%
Cappuccino
$1.98 ฿64.2
$2.16 TZS 5,531
-8.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ฿26.64
$0.59 TZS 1,510
38.98%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ฿10.58
$0.31 TZS 784
6.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.12 ฿68.6
$1.91 TZS 4,876
10.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿121
$2.73 TZS 6,976
36.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Zanzibar
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ฿53.2
$1.71 TZS 4,371
-4.09%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ฿50.9
$0.72 TZS 1,840
118.06%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿38.62
$0.8 TZS 2,044
48.75%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿64.1
$3 TZS 7,673
-34.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.99 ฿517
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 ฿101
$2.27 TZS 5,804
37.44%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.16 ฿361
$4.66 TZS 11.9K
139.48%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 ฿89.2
$2.85 TZS 7,303
-3.16%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿39.5
$1.19 TZS 3,042
2.52%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ฿55.4
$0.74 TZS 1,906
131.08%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 ฿50.2
$0.56 TZS 1,438
176.79%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 ฿43.21
$0.95 TZS 2,436
41.05%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 ฿39.23
$1.57 TZS 4,008
-22.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿23.2
$0.76 TZS 1,934
-5.26%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.05
$0.47 TZS 1,197
12.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.72 ฿153
$2.1 TZS 5,365
124.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.39 ฿595
$10.23 TZS 26.2K
79.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ฿57.9
$1.78 TZS 4,567
0.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ฿104
$1.37 TZS 3,502
134.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Zanzibar
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 ฿30.44
$0.6 TZS 1,537
56.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.9 ฿612
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 ฿46.08
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿43.53
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 ฿254
$2.63 TZS 6,730
198.48%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 ฿40.4
$1.21 TZS 3,088
3.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿684.9K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿706.8K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Zanzibar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.6 ฿2,285
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.72 ฿444
$10.57 TZS 27.1K
29.80%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.56 ฿568
$23.08 TZS 59.1K
-23.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Zanzibar
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.64 ฿1,347
$20.88 TZS 53.4K
99.43%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.9 ฿223
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.8 ฿188
$9.62 TZS 24.6K
-39.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Zanzibar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 ฿9,963
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ฿475.8K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Zanzibar
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4 ฿1,793
$13.24 TZS 33.9K
318.43%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.4 ฿854
$17.5 TZS 44.8K
50.86%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.1 ฿2,755
$15.53 TZS 39.7K
448.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8 ฿2,323
$13.33 TZS 34.1K
438.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Zanzibar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$434 ฿14K
$147 TZS 376.3K
195.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 ฿7,610
$99.8 TZS 255.4K
135.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$821 ฿26.6K
$198 TZS 506.7K
314.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ฿16.1K
$148 TZS 379.7K
235.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,180 ฿70.6K
$41.1K TZS 105.1M
-94.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,543 ฿49.9K
$12.1K TZS 31M
-87.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Zanzibar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$703 ฿22.8K
$340 TZS 869K
107.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
10
-50.00%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

Last update for Zanzibar: October 29, 2025

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