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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 72.2% more expensive than Zanzibar without rent, and 93.9% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 43.4% more expensive than Zanzibar without rent, and 89.3% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.01 ฿64.4

$4.80 TZS 12.5K

-58.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.23 ฿583

$22.36 TZS 58.3K

-18.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.65 ฿244

$5.67 TZS 14.8K

34.92%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿61.3

$2.25 TZS 5,859

-14.67%

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

$0.84 ฿26.90

$0.60 TZS 1,566

40.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.39

$0.33 TZS 862

9.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.19 ฿70.0

$1.96 TZS 5,096

11.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿121

$2.64 TZS 6,874

43.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿52.4

$1.79 TZS 4,668

-8.38%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿51.8

$0.73 TZS 1,894

121.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 ฿36.88

$0.88 TZS 2,287

30.68%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿62.0

$2.88 TZS 7,514

-32.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.94 ฿510

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.10 ฿99.2

$2.28 TZS 5,947

35.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.07 ฿354

$4.67 TZS 12.2K

137.04%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿86.5

$2.83 TZS 7,375

-4.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿37.69

$1.19 TZS 3,110

-0.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿54.5

$0.79 TZS 2,053

116.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.61 ฿51.3

$0.61 TZS 1,584

163.93%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿44.53

$1.02 TZS 2,646

36.27%

Onion (1kg)

$1.15 ฿36.70

$1.56 TZS 4,078

-26.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿22.76

$0.74 TZS 1,921

-4.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ฿17.60

$0.49 TZS 1,287

12.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.57 ฿146

$2.02 TZS 5,263

126.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.87 ฿603

$9.48 TZS 24.7K

99.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 ฿58.2

$1.75 TZS 4,563

4.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.21 ฿103

$1.33 TZS 3,465

141.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.16

$0.61 TZS 1,589

44.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.89 ฿604

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.17

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.30 ฿41.59

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.20 ฿262

$2.79 TZS 7,263

193.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.18

$1.16 TZS 3,017

6.03%

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

$21.2K ฿677.0K

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

$22.3K ฿713.3K

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

$69.9 ฿2,234

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

$14.07 ฿450

$10.46 TZS 27.3K

34.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.70 ฿566

$23.01 TZS 60.0K

-23.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.41 ฿1,324

$21.50 TZS 56.0K

92.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.69 ฿214

Cinema Ticket

$5.74 ฿184

$9.58 TZS 25.0K

-40.08%

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

$299 ฿9,566

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿479.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.8 ฿1,753

$13.56 TZS 35.3K

304.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.35 ฿842

$17.17 TZS 44.7K

53.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.7 ฿2,706

$15.27 TZS 39.8K

454.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.7 ฿2,229

$13.50 TZS 35.2K

416.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$427 ฿13.6K

$149 TZS 389.0K

186.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$241 ฿7,697

$99.8 TZS 260.1K

141.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$811 ฿25.9K

$200 TZS 521.7K

304.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$498 ฿15.9K

$147 TZS 383.2K

238.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,022 ฿64.7K

$37.8K TZS 98.4M

-94.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,524 ฿48.7K

$11.5K TZS 30.1M

-86.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$639 ฿20.4K

$321 TZS 836.7K

99.09%

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: April 13, 2026

Last update for Zanzibar: April 12, 2026

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 other spots: cost of living compared

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