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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $657 per month in Chinhoyi vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,026 per month in Chinhoyi vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,396 per month in Chinhoyi vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Chinhoyi is about 23% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chinhoyi and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Chinhoyi 51% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chinhoyi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.06 ZWL 52.1
$1.96 ฿64.0
5.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.0 ZWL 1,290
$18.81 ฿615
171.03%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.40 ZWL 111
$7.92 ฿259
-44.44%
Cappuccino
$0.99 ZWL 25.01
$1.91 ฿62.6
-48.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 ZWL 8.61
$0.84 ฿27.41
-59.52%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24 ZWL 6.03
$0.35 ฿11.51
-31.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.02 ZWL 25.74
$2.21 ฿72.1
-53.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 ZWL 49.29
$3.80 ฿124
-48.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chinhoyi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.47 ZWL 37.21
$1.64 ฿53.5
-10.37%
White Bread (500g)
$0.82 ZWL 20.82
$1.62 ฿53.1
-49.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.66 ZWL 42.08
$1.18 ฿38.62
40.68%
Eggs
$2.15 ZWL 54.4
$2.01 ฿65.8
6.97%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.78 ZWL 273
$15.89 ฿520
-32.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.92 ZWL 73.9
$3.01 ฿98.5
-2.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.10 ZWL 104
$10.77 ฿352
-61.93%
Apples (1kg)
$0.98 ZWL 24.79
$2.61 ฿85.5
-62.45%
Banana (1kg)
$1.02 ZWL 25.92
$1.22 ฿39.88
-16.39%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.97 ZWL 24.56
$1.70 ฿55.7
-42.94%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.98 ZWL 24.72
$1.58 ฿51.5
-37.97%
Potato (1kg)
$1.02 ZWL 25.88
$1.32 ฿43.14
-22.73%
Onion (1kg)
$0.97 ZWL 24.56
$1.17 ฿38.23
-17.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.52 ZWL 13.11
$0.67 ฿21.98
-22.39%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77 ZWL 19.57
$0.56 ฿18.32
37.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.13 ZWL 28.63
$4.53 ฿148
-75.06%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.92 ZWL 175
$18.20 ฿595
-61.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.48 ZWL 12.04
$1.83 ฿60.0
-73.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02 ZWL 25.70
$3.23 ฿106
-68.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Chinhoyi
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.97 ZWL 24.58
$0.89 ฿29.00
8.99%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.76 ZWL 753
$19.38 ฿634
53.56%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.07 ZWL 103
$1.35 ฿44.20
201.48%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.02 ZWL 51.2
$1.35 ฿44.05
49.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.03 ZWL 127
$8.25 ฿270
-39.03%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.43 ZWL 36.26
$1.27 ฿41.64
12.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.2K ZWL 511.7K
$21.2K ฿691.8K
-4.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8K ZWL 602.5K
$22.5K ฿735.3K
5.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chinhoyi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.71 ZWL 1,030
$70.2 ฿2,294
-41.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.57 ZWL 445
$13.77 ฿450
27.60%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$89.4 ZWL 2,261
$17.60 ฿575
407.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chinhoyi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$41.57 ฿1,360
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.60 ฿216
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.19 ZWL 258
$5.78 ฿189
76.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chinhoyi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$279 ZWL 7,063
$306 ฿10.0K
-8.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,438 ZWL 188.2K
$14.8K ฿484.8K
-49.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chinhoyi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.75 ZWL 500
$54.4 ฿1,778
-63.67%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.96 ZWL 530
$26.14 ฿855
-19.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$34.06 ZWL 862
$84.5 ฿2,764
-59.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.40 ZWL 1,022
$69.4 ฿2,270
-41.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chinhoyi
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$424 ฿13.9K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$183 ZWL 4,640
$238 ฿7,788
-23.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$825 ฿27.0K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$300 ZWL 7,597
$515 ฿16.8K
-41.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,049 ฿67.0K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,523 ฿49.8K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chinhoyi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$201 ZWL 5,080
$635 ฿20.8K
-68.39%
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: April 25, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 216% 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 $51.0 in Chinhoyi versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $152 in Chinhoyi vs $243 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 30% 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 $985 per month in Chinhoyi and $1,278 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 $279 per month in Chinhoyi and $306 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 60% 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 $657 in Chinhoyi and $852 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 $657 versus $852 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.

Chinhoyi vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities