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 $666 per month in Chinhoyi vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,032 per month in Chinhoyi vs $1,360 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,399 per month in Chinhoyi vs $1,867 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Chinhoyi is about 22% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chinhoyi and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Chinhoyi 50% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chinhoyi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.99 ZWL 53.0
$2.04 ฿68.2
-2.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.88 ZWL 1,331
$18.71 ฿624
166.60%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.47 ZWL 119
$7.86 ฿262
-43.13%
Cappuccino
$1.02 ZWL 27.24
$2.03 ฿67.7
-49.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 ZWL 9.10
$0.80 ฿26.64
-57.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24 ZWL 6.38
$0.35 ฿11.68
-31.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.99 ZWL 26.40
$2.14 ฿71.5
-53.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98 ZWL 52.8
$3.67 ฿122
-46.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chinhoyi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.51 ZWL 40.36
$1.73 ฿57.6
-12.72%
White Bread (500g)
$0.81 ZWL 21.53
$1.57 ฿52.4
-48.41%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.63 ZWL 43.57
$1.20 ฿39.99
35.83%
Eggs
$2.11 ZWL 56.2
$1.97 ฿65.8
7.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.03 ZWL 294
$16.23 ฿541
-32.04%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.95 ZWL 78.7
$3.06 ฿102
-3.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.03 ZWL 108
$10.80 ฿360
-62.69%
Apples (1kg)
$0.97 ZWL 25.96
$2.77 ฿92.3
-64.98%
Banana (1kg)
$1.03 ZWL 27.43
$1.17 ฿38.94
-11.97%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.03 ZWL 27.42
$1.71 ฿57.0
-39.77%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.03 ZWL 27.42
$1.59 ฿53.2
-35.22%
Potato (1kg)
$0.97 ZWL 26.01
$1.39 ฿46.51
-30.22%
Onion (1kg)
$1.03 ZWL 27.38
$1.16 ฿38.56
-11.21%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.51 ZWL 13.67
$0.66 ฿22.05
-22.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 ZWL 20.69
$0.52 ฿17.31
50.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.07 ZWL 28.62
$4.65 ฿155
-76.99%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.82 ZWL 182
$17.78 ฿593
-61.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.48 ZWL 12.85
$1.79 ฿59.6
-73.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.03 ZWL 27.39
$3.34 ฿111
-69.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Chinhoyi
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.99 ZWL 26.31
$0.91 ฿30.27
8.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.74 ZWL 793
$18.64 ฿622
59.55%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.02 ZWL 107
$1.41 ฿47.04
185.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.02 ZWL 53.9
$1.34 ฿44.70
50.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.05 ZWL 135
$8.11 ฿270
-37.73%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.39 ZWL 36.97
$1.23 ฿41.16
13.01%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.3K ZWL 540.4K
$21.4K ฿715.1K
-5.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.9K ZWL 612.0K
$21.8K ฿728.0K
5.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chinhoyi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.57 ZWL 1,082
$71.3 ฿2,379
-43.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.94 ZWL 479
$14.01 ฿467
28.05%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$90.1 ZWL 2,402
$17.93 ฿598
402.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chinhoyi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$40.82 ฿1,362
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.88 ฿230
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.20 ZWL 272
$5.72 ฿191
78.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chinhoyi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$280 ZWL 7,459
$308 ฿10.3K
-9.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,365 ZWL 196.5K
$14.7K ฿489.7K
-49.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chinhoyi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.40 ZWL 518
$55.8 ฿1,860
-65.21%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.35 ZWL 570
$26.04 ฿869
-18.01%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$34.29 ZWL 915
$84.8 ฿2,829
-59.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$39.83 ZWL 1,063
$71.0 ฿2,368
-43.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chinhoyi
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$423 ฿14.1K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$178 ZWL 4,760
$242 ฿8,088
-26.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$797 ฿26.6K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$302 ZWL 8,058
$507 ฿16.9K
-40.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,918 ฿64.0K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,464 ฿48.8K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chinhoyi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$201 ZWL 5,363
$595 ฿19.9K
-66.22%
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: July 25, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 196% 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 $244 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 28% 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 $998 per month in Chinhoyi and $1,279 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 $280 per month in Chinhoyi and $308 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 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 in Chiang Mai?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $666 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 $666 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 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.

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