🙂A single person spends $644 per month in Chinhoyi vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,031 per month in Chinhoyi vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,418 per month in Chinhoyi vs $1,855 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Chinhoyi is about 26% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Chinhoyi and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Chinhoyi52% lower, Chiang Mai35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chinhoyi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.05ZWL 54.8
$1.98฿64.3
3.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.87ZWL 1,335
$18.80฿612
165.27%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.55ZWL 122
$7.75฿252
-41.29%
Cappuccino
$0.99ZWL 26.37
$1.92฿62.5
-48.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32ZWL 8.46
$0.79฿25.79
-59.49%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24ZWL 6.40
$0.36฿11.62
-33.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.98ZWL 26.31
$2.21฿72.1
-55.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03ZWL 54.5
$3.66฿119
-44.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chinhoyi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.54ZWL 41.34
$1.65฿53.8
-6.67%
White Bread(500g)
$0.87ZWL 23.39
$1.63฿53.2
-46.63%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61ZWL 43.11
$1.19฿38.86
35.29%
Eggs
$2.09ZWL 55.9
$2.00฿65.1
4.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.80ZWL 289
$15.98฿520
-32.42%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.94ZWL 78.7
$3.03฿98.5
-2.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$3.97ZWL 106
$10.86฿354
-63.44%
Apples(1kg)
$0.97ZWL 26.06
$2.76฿90.0
-64.86%
Banana(1kg)
$1.03ZWL 27.57
$1.18฿38.42
-12.71%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.98ZWL 26.21
$1.64฿53.5
-40.24%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.02ZWL 27.26
$1.52฿49.51
-32.89%
Potato(1kg)
$0.97ZWL 26.09
$1.38฿45.10
-29.71%
Onion(1kg)
$1.03ZWL 27.53
$1.19฿38.84
-13.45%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.51ZWL 13.75
$0.70฿22.86
-27.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77ZWL 20.64
$0.56฿18.13
37.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.11ZWL 29.79
$4.58฿149
-75.76%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.12ZWL 191
$16.56฿539
-57.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.51ZWL 13.73
$1.83฿59.5
-72.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97ZWL 26.09
$3.20฿104
-69.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Chinhoyi
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.02ZWL 27.23
$0.88฿28.56
15.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.68ZWL 794
$18.72฿610
58.55%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.07ZWL 109
$1.36฿44.16
199.26%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.06ZWL 55.1
$1.34฿43.65
53.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.04ZWL 135
$7.84฿256
-35.71%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.46ZWL 39.01
$1.23฿39.92
18.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.6KZWL 525.9K
$21.6K฿704.3K
-9.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.0KZWL 615.3K
$22.5K฿734.3K
1.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chinhoyi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.29ZWL 1,079
$70.5฿2,298
-42.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.46ZWL 468
$13.68฿445
27.63%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$88.4ZWL 2,367
$17.45฿568
406.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chinhoyi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$41.33฿1,346
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.96฿227
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.97ZWL 267
$5.77฿188
72.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chinhoyi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$282ZWL 7,562
$307฿10.0K
-8.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,193ZWL 192.6K
$14.6K฿475.9K
-50.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chinhoyi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.08ZWL 511
$55.8฿1,817
-65.80%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.93ZWL 560
$26.21฿854
-20.14%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$35.09ZWL 939
$85.8฿2,793
-59.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.32ZWL 1,079
$72.2฿2,353
-44.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chinhoyi
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$430฿14.0K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$180ZWL 4,809
$239฿7,774
-24.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$817฿26.6K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$296ZWL 7,935
$511฿16.6K
-41.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,983฿64.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,484฿48.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chinhoyi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$199ZWL 5,339
$619฿20.2K
-67.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.31
5
166.20%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chinhoyi: June 8, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Salaries run about 210% 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 $50.0 in Chinhoyi versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $153 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 35% 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 vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $966 per month in Chinhoyi and $1,303 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 Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $282 per month in Chinhoyi and $307 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 Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 57% 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 $1,200/month in Chinhoyi or Chiang Mai?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $644 in Chinhoyi and $869 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chinhoyi or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chinhoyi costs $644 versus $869 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 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.