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

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $338 per month in Chingola vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $569 per month in Chingola vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $800 per month in Chingola vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Chingola is about 60% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chingola and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Chingola 75% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.36 ZMW 233

$1.96 ฿63.6

530.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.38 ZMW 384

$18.81 ฿611

8.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿258

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.2

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

$0.42 ZMW 7.98

$0.84 ฿27.25

-50.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ZMW 5.67

$0.35 ฿11.44

-14.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.48 ZMW 9.00

$2.21 ฿71.7

-78.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.06 ZMW 19.87

$3.80 ฿124

-72.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 ZMW 19.74

$1.64 ฿53.2

-35.98%

White Bread (500g)

$0.77 ZMW 14.57

$1.62 ฿52.8

-52.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.01 ZMW 37.90

$1.18 ฿38.40

70.34%

Eggs

$1.14 ZMW 21.40

$2.01 ฿65.4

-43.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿517

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.08 ZMW 39.20

$3.01 ฿98.0

-30.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.75 ZMW 70.5

$10.77 ฿350

-65.18%

Apples (1kg)

$1.71 ZMW 32.10

$2.61 ฿85.0

-34.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 ZMW 30.98

$1.22 ฿39.65

35.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ZMW 30.70

$1.70 ฿55.4

-4.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.64 ZMW 30.80

$1.58 ฿51.2

3.80%

Potato (1kg)

$2.44 ZMW 45.99

$1.32 ฿42.89

84.85%

Onion (1kg)

$1.27 ZMW 23.89

$1.17 ฿38.01

8.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.85

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 ZMW 13.91

$0.56 ฿18.21

32.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.22 ZMW 22.98

$4.53 ฿147

-73.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.16 ZMW 97.0

$18.20 ฿592

-71.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ZMW 9.78

$1.83 ฿59.6

-71.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.61 ZMW 11.46

$3.23 ฿105

-81.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿28.83

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿630

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿43.95

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 ZMW 8.44

$1.35 ฿43.79

-66.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.48 ZMW 160

$8.25 ฿268

2.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 ZMW 22.38

$1.27 ฿41.40

-6.30%

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

$21.2K ฿687.8K

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

$22.5K ฿731.0K

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

$41.69 ZMW 785

$70.2 ฿2,281

-40.57%

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

$13.77 ฿448

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿572

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$8.24 ZMW 155

$41.57 ฿1,352

-80.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿215

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿188

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

$306 ฿9,953

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿482.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.35 ZMW 308

$54.4 ฿1,768

-69.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$10.35 ZMW 195

$26.14 ฿850

-60.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$41.97 ZMW 790

$84.5 ฿2,748

-50.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$62.3 ZMW 1,172

$69.4 ฿2,257

-10.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,743

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿26.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿66.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$15.9K ZMW 299.6K

$1,523 ฿49.5K

945.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$117 ZMW 2,206

$635 ฿20.6K

-81.55%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Chingola: April 26, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 442% 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 $20.00 in Chingola versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $118 in Chingola vs $243 in Chiang Mai – so Chingola 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

Chingola vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 152% more than Chingola, 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 $508 per month in Chingola and $1,278 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $338 in Chingola and $852 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 105% 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.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $338 in Chingola and $852 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chingola costs $338 versus $852 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 Chingola. 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.