Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Kitwe and Chiang Mai

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

For one person, living is cheaper in Kitwe: $186 a month against $935 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $9,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

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Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index

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Kitwe

🇿🇲 Zambia

$186

/mo nomad

Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$935

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Kitwe and in Chiang Mai

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Kitwe and in Chiang Mai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $186 per month in Kitwe vs $935 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Kitwe $186
Chiang Mai $935

A couple spends around $1,228 per month in Kitwe vs $1,467 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Kitwe $1,228
Chiang Mai $1,467

A family of three spends $2,270 per month in Kitwe vs $1,999 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Kitwe $2,270
Chiang Mai $1,999

Kitwe is about 80% cheaper than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Kitwe and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Kitwe 86% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.13 ฿72.0

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.62 ฿628

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.60 ฿189

Cappuccino

$2.56 ZMW 51.9

$1.66 ฿56.1

54.22%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.58 ZMW 11.71

$0.65 ฿21.83

-10.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 ZMW 15.42

$0.30 ฿10.29

153.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.02 ZMW 40.98

$2.32 ฿78.4

-12.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 ZMW 49.76

$3.67 ฿124

-32.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.02 ฿68.0

White Bread (500g)

$1.02 ZMW 20.58

$1.41 ฿47.51

-27.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.96

Eggs

$2.37 ฿79.9

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.52 ฿557

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.67 ฿90.1

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.02 ฿304

Apples (1kg)

$2.40 ฿80.9

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 ฿35.13

Oranges (1kg)

$1.66 ฿56.0

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 ฿52.6

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.76

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.66

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 ฿25.70

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿17.35

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.48 ZMW 50.3

$4.12 ฿139

-39.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.93 ฿605

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 ZMW 22.83

$1.62 ฿54.8

-30.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.98 ZMW 19.93

$2.82 ฿95.2

-65.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿31.53

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$52.9 ฿1,785

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ฿39.70

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.17 ฿5.79

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 ฿61.1

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.42 ZMW 28.72

$1.47 ฿49.69

-3.40%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.0K ฿708.9K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$30.4K ZMW 615.0K

$26.5K ฿894.6K

14.53%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$62.6 ฿2,111

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$11.60 ฿392

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$102 ZMW 2,056

$20.30 ฿685

400.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.11 ZMW 306

$37.88 ฿1,278

-60.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.70 ฿125

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 ฿220

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$609 ZMW 12.3K

$727 ฿24.5K

-16.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.9K ZMW 241.7K

$16.6K ฿559.2K

-28.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.5 ฿1,807

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.80 ฿837

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.4 ฿3,050

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.0 ฿2,428

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,205 ZMW 24.4K

$481 ฿16.2K

150.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$310 ฿10.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,451 ZMW 49.6K

$1,058 ฿35.7K

131.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,010 ZMW 40.7K

$659 ฿22.2K

205.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,418 ฿81.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,609 ฿54.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿20.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

546.32%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Kitwe: November 2, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Kitwe

–

Chiang Mai

$310 33.1%

Groceries & Markets

Kitwe

–

Chiang Mai

$237 25.3%

Clothing & Footwear

Kitwe

–

Chiang Mai

$108 11.6%

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Kitwe

–

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Eating Out

Kitwe

–

Chiang Mai

$77 8.2%

Getting Around

Kitwe

–

Chiang Mai

$59 6.3%

Sport & Entertainment

Kitwe

–

Chiang Mai

$51 5.4%

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,205 in Kitwe versus $481 in Chiang Mai. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Good to know

🇿🇲 Kitwe

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🕒 Local time

20:29 8:29 PM

01:29 1:29 AM

5 h ahead of Kitwe

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

522,092

127,240

💱 Currency

Zambian Kwacha ZMW ZK

Thai Baht THB ฿

📈 Exchange rate

100 ZMW = 4.94 USD

100 ZMW = 4.41 EUR

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.65 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to ZMW – Zambian Kwacha Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇿🇲 Zambian Kwacha (ZK)

Zambian Kwacha exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 20.25 ZMW (100 ZMW = 4.94 USD). 1 EUR = 22.67 ZMW (100 ZMW = 4.41 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 33.74 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.77 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

USD to ZMW in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Kitwe Chiang Mai 8,510 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight

From you

Kitwe
Chiang Mai

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

Kitwe vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 404% more than Kitwe, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $278 per month in Kitwe and $1,403 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $481 there versus $1,205 in Kitwe.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $186 in Kitwe and $935 in Chiang Mai. That makes Kitwe about 80% cheaper.

Groceries cost about 1232% more in Chiang Mai, though the gap depends on what you buy.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $186 in Kitwe and $935 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $186 in Kitwe to $935 in Chiang Mai. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.