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

😐 Solo nomad: Lusaka is 16.1% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 2.4% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Lusaka is 10.7% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 11.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lusaka
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.31 ZMW 180
$2.02 ฿65.3
261.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.24 ZMW 621
$18.78 ฿608
34.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.65 ZMW 89.8
$7.67 ฿248
-52.41%
Cappuccino
$1.94 ZMW 47.7
$1.98 ฿64.2
-2.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 ZMW 17.91
$0.82 ฿26.64
-10.98%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 ZMW 8.36
$0.33 ฿10.58
3.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.88 ZMW 21.69
$2.12 ฿68.6
-58.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84 ZMW 45.19
$3.73 ฿121
-50.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lusaka
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.27 ZMW 31.34
$1.64 ฿53.2
-22.56%
White Bread (500g)
$0.8 ZMW 19.66
$1.57 ฿50.9
-49.04%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.66 ZMW 40.9
$1.19 ฿38.62
39.50%
Eggs
$1.79 ZMW 44.03
$1.98 ฿64.1
-9.60%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.84 ZMW 193
$15.99 ฿517
-50.97%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.81 ZMW 93.7
$3.12 ฿101
22.12%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.73 ZMW 116
$11.16 ฿361
-57.62%
Apples (1kg)
$2.49 ZMW 61.2
$2.76 ฿89.2
-9.78%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 ZMW 40.93
$1.22 ฿39.5
36.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.79 ZMW 68.6
$1.71 ฿55.4
63.16%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.12 ZMW 27.52
$1.55 ฿50.2
-27.74%
Potato (1kg)
$1.87 ZMW 46.08
$1.34 ฿43.21
39.55%
Onion (1kg)
$1.38 ZMW 33.86
$1.21 ฿39.23
14.05%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.93 ZMW 22.89
$0.72 ฿23.2
29.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ZMW 12.01
$0.53 ฿17.05
-7.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.43 ZMW 59.7
$4.72 ฿153
-48.52%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.7 ZMW 165
$18.39 ฿595
-63.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 ZMW 26.83
$1.79 ฿57.9
-39.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 ZMW 38.64
$3.21 ฿104
-51.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Lusaka
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.02 ZMW 25.19
$0.94 ฿30.44
8.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$38.27 ZMW 942
$18.9 ฿612
102.49%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.67 ZMW 65.6
$1.42 ฿46.08
88.03%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.15 ZMW 28.23
$1.35 ฿43.53
-14.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.45 ZMW 232
$7.85 ฿254
20.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.2 ZMW 29.51
$1.25 ฿40.4
-4.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$8,101 ZMW 199.3K
$21.2K ฿684.9K
-61.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.1K ZMW 692K
$21.8K ฿706.8K
28.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lusaka
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$91.5 ZMW 2,250
$70.6 ฿2,285
29.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.1 ZMW 1,305
$13.72 ฿444
286.73%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$127 ZMW 3,118
$17.56 ฿568
621.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lusaka
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.64 ZMW 1,123
$41.64 ฿1,347
9.61%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.97 ZMW 344
$6.9 ฿223
102.46%
Cinema Ticket
$4.13 ZMW 102
$5.8 ฿188
-28.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lusaka
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$174 ZMW 4,278
$308 ฿9,963
-43.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,526 ZMW 234.3K
$14.7K ฿475.8K
-35.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lusaka
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$18.76 ZMW 461
$55.4 ฿1,793
-66.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$17.25 ZMW 424
$26.4 ฿854
-34.66%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.2 ZMW 2,072
$85.1 ฿2,755
-1.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.2 ZMW 1,775
$71.8 ฿2,323
0.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lusaka
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$223 ZMW 5,475
$434 ฿14K
-48.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$124 ZMW 3,052
$235 ฿7,610
-47.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,034 ZMW 25.4K
$821 ฿26.6K
25.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$605 ZMW 14.9K
$498 ฿16.1K
21.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,020 ZMW 49.7K
$2,180 ฿70.6K
-7.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,856 ZMW 119.5K
$1,543 ฿49.9K
214.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lusaka
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$314 ZMW 7,714
$703 ฿22.8K
-55.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
25
5
400.00%

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

Last update for Lusaka: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

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