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 $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 – Chinhoyi 52% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chinhoyi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.05 ZWL 54.8
$1.98 ฿64.3
3.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.87 ZWL 1,335
$18.80 ฿612
165.27%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.55 ZWL 122
$7.75 ฿252
-41.29%
Cappuccino
$0.99 ZWL 26.37
$1.92 ฿62.5
-48.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32 ZWL 8.46
$0.79 ฿25.79
-59.49%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24 ZWL 6.40
$0.36 ฿11.62
-33.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.98 ZWL 26.31
$2.21 ฿72.1
-55.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 ZWL 54.5
$3.66 ฿119
-44.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chinhoyi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.54 ZWL 41.34
$1.65 ฿53.8
-6.67%
White Bread (500g)
$0.87 ZWL 23.39
$1.63 ฿53.2
-46.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.61 ZWL 43.11
$1.19 ฿38.86
35.29%
Eggs
$2.09 ZWL 55.9
$2.00 ฿65.1
4.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.80 ZWL 289
$15.98 ฿520
-32.42%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.94 ZWL 78.7
$3.03 ฿98.5
-2.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$3.97 ZWL 106
$10.86 ฿354
-63.44%
Apples (1kg)
$0.97 ZWL 26.06
$2.76 ฿90.0
-64.86%
Banana (1kg)
$1.03 ZWL 27.57
$1.18 ฿38.42
-12.71%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.98 ZWL 26.21
$1.64 ฿53.5
-40.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.02 ZWL 27.26
$1.52 ฿49.51
-32.89%
Potato (1kg)
$0.97 ZWL 26.09
$1.38 ฿45.10
-29.71%
Onion (1kg)
$1.03 ZWL 27.53
$1.19 ฿38.84
-13.45%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.51 ZWL 13.75
$0.70 ฿22.86
-27.14%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77 ZWL 20.64
$0.56 ฿18.13
37.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.11 ZWL 29.79
$4.58 ฿149
-75.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.12 ZWL 191
$16.56 ฿539
-57.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ZWL 13.73
$1.83 ฿59.5
-72.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97 ZWL 26.09
$3.20 ฿104
-69.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Chinhoyi
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.02 ZWL 27.23
$0.88 ฿28.56
15.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.68 ZWL 794
$18.72 ฿610
58.55%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.07 ZWL 109
$1.36 ฿44.16
199.26%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.06 ZWL 55.1
$1.34 ฿43.65
53.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.04 ZWL 135
$7.84 ฿256
-35.71%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.46 ZWL 39.01
$1.23 ฿39.92
18.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.6K ZWL 525.9K
$21.6K ฿704.3K
-9.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.0K ZWL 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)
$40.29 ZWL 1,079
$70.5 ฿2,298
-42.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.46 ZWL 468
$13.68 ฿445
27.63%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$88.4 ZWL 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
$9.97 ZWL 267
$5.77 ฿188
72.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chinhoyi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$282 ZWL 7,562
$307 ฿10.0K
-8.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,193 ZWL 192.6K
$14.6K ฿475.9K
-50.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chinhoyi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.08 ZWL 511
$55.8 ฿1,817
-65.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.93 ZWL 560
$26.21 ฿854
-20.14%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$35.09 ZWL 939
$85.8 ฿2,793
-59.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.32 ZWL 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)
$180 ZWL 4,809
$239 ฿7,774
-24.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$817 ฿26.6K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$296 ZWL 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)
$199 ZWL 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.

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