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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $451 in Zanzibar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $702 in Zanzibar, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $954 in Zanzibar, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 92% more than Zanzibar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Zanzibar are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Zanzibar 66% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$4.87 TZS 12.6K

-60.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$22.38 TZS 57.7K

-16.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$5.83 TZS 15.0K

34.13%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$2.18 TZS 5,635

-10.55%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.60 TZS 1,539

41.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.31 TZS 792

12.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$1.94 TZS 5,011

9.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$2.77 TZS 7,141

34.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.77 TZS 4,574

-3.39%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.74 TZS 1,897

120.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$0.87 TZS 2,236

31.03%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$2.87 TZS 7,396

-32.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$2.28 TZS 5,872

36.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$4.75 TZS 12.2K

129.47%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$2.92 TZS 7,541

-5.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$1.13 TZS 2,908

7.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$0.75 TZS 1,943

116.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$0.59 TZS 1,530

169.49%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$0.93 TZS 2,386

50.54%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$1.58 TZS 4,062

-25.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$0.74 TZS 1,916

-10.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.46 TZS 1,184

15.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$2.11 TZS 5,442

122.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$9.55 TZS 24.6K

95.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.75 TZS 4,520

2.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.31 TZS 3,387

146.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.65 TZS 1,664

38.46%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$2.76 TZS 7,125

184.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$1.20 TZS 3,101

5.83%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

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

$14.08 ฿460

$10.46 TZS 27.0K

34.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$22.74 TZS 58.6K

-20.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$21.24 TZS 54.8K

93.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$9.42 TZS 24.3K

-37.15%

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

$299 ฿9,766

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$13.26 TZS 34.2K

312.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$17.44 TZS 45.0K

53.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$15.26 TZS 39.3K

456.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$13.76 TZS 35.5K

413.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$148 TZS 382.9K

188.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$99.0 TZS 255.4K

139.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$202 TZS 520.2K

297.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$150 TZS 386.0K

244.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$38.5K TZS 99.3M

-94.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$11.4K TZS 29.3M

-87.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$324 TZS 834.5K

90.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-50.00%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Zanzibar: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $148 in Zanzibar. 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 91% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $22.00 in Zanzibar. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $138 in Zanzibar – so Zanzibar 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 Zanzibar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 92% more than Zanzibar, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $676 in Zanzibar. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Zanzibar, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $866 in Chiang Mai and $451 in Zanzibar. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 79% 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 $866 in Chiang Mai and $451 in Zanzibar, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Zanzibar costs $451 versus $866 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 Zanzibar. 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.