🙂A single person spends $630 per month in Chinhoyi vs $932 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,001 per month in Chinhoyi vs $1,399 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,373 per month in Chinhoyi vs $1,866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Chinhoyi is about 32% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Chinhoyi and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Chinhoyi54% lower, Chiang Mai32% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chinhoyi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96ZWL 52.2
$2.08฿69.4
-5.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.98ZWL 1,065
$19.61฿654
103.88%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.43ZWL 118
$5.67฿189
-21.87%
Cappuccino
$0.99ZWL 26.27
$1.81฿60.2
-45.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35ZWL 9.21
$0.77฿25.60
-54.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24ZWL 6.39
$0.35฿11.50
-31.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.98ZWL 26.17
$2.21฿73.8
-55.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02ZWL 53.8
$3.79฿126
-46.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chinhoyi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.47ZWL 39.18
$2.05฿68.2
-28.29%
White Bread(500g)
$0.86ZWL 22.97
$1.51฿50.5
-43.05%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63ZWL 43.35
$1.40฿46.61
16.43%
Eggs
$1.94ZWL 51.7
$2.26฿75.2
-14.16%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.13ZWL 323
$16.19฿540
-25.08%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.98ZWL 79.4
$2.90฿96.5
2.76%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.05ZWL 108
$9.42฿314
-57.01%
Apples(1kg)
$1.02ZWL 27.16
$2.68฿89.2
-61.94%
Banana(1kg)
$0.97ZWL 25.96
$1.09฿36.31
-11.01%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.97ZWL 25.96
$1.62฿53.9
-40.12%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.99ZWL 26.31
$1.46฿48.66
-32.19%
Potato(1kg)
$0.97ZWL 25.97
$1.28฿42.57
-24.22%
Onion(1kg)
$0.97ZWL 25.96
$1.06฿35.25
-8.49%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.49ZWL 12.98
$0.72฿23.90
-31.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77ZWL 20.44
$0.53฿17.53
45.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.99ZWL 53.0
$4.23฿141
-52.96%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.01ZWL 187
$18.29฿610
-61.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.52ZWL 13.90
$1.63฿54.3
-68.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98ZWL 26.13
$2.90฿96.7
-66.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Chinhoyi
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.98ZWL 26.14
$0.88฿29.26
11.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$30.47ZWL 812
$53.8฿1,791
-43.33%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.91ZWL 104
$1.17฿39.07
234.19%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.04ZWL 54.4
$0.58฿19.26
251.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.02ZWL 134
$2.39฿79.5
110.04%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.40ZWL 37.34
$1.45฿48.32
-3.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.2KZWL 591.3K
$21.0K฿700.1K
5.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1KZWL 723.0K
$26.4K฿880.5K
2.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chinhoyi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.57ZWL 1,081
$63.7฿2,121
-36.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.88ZWL 530
$12.89฿430
54.23%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.1ZWL 1,815
$20.52฿684
231.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chinhoyi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$39.02฿1,300
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.92฿130
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.09ZWL 269
$6.58฿219
53.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chinhoyi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$457ZWL 12.2K
$784฿26.1K
-41.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,890ZWL 236.9K
$14.7K฿488.9K
-39.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chinhoyi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.34ZWL 649
$55.1฿1,836
-55.83%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.44ZWL 571
$24.74฿824
-13.34%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$39.49ZWL 1,053
$94.1฿3,136
-58.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$42.30ZWL 1,127
$74.0฿2,464
-42.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chinhoyi
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$490฿16.3K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$180ZWL 4,808
$288฿9,602
-37.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$891฿29.7K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$296ZWL 7,895
$521฿17.4K
-43.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,974฿65.8K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,444฿48.1K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chinhoyi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$198ZWL 5,280
$602฿20.0K
-67.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.69
5.57
145.78%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chinhoyi: September 13, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Salaries run about 204% 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 $40.00 in Chinhoyi versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $155 in Chinhoyi vs $241 in Chiang Mai – so Chinhoyi 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
Chinhoyi vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chinhoyi or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 48% more than Chinhoyi, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chinhoyi and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $945 per month in Chinhoyi and $1,398 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do childcare costs compare in Chinhoyi and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $457 per month in Chinhoyi and $784 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chinhoyi or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 55% 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.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Chinhoyi or in Chiang Mai?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Chinhoyi, where all-in costs run around $630, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Chinhoyi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chinhoyi or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chinhoyi costs $630 versus $932 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chinhoyi compared to Chiang Mai?
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.
Should I move to Chinhoyi or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chinhoyi. 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.