🙂A single person spends $296 per month in Nampula vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $478 per month in Nampula vs $1,360 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $659 per month in Nampula vs $1,867 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Nampula is about 65% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Nampula and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Nampula78% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nampula
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.24MZN 268
$2.04฿68.2
107.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$18.71฿624
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
-
$7.86฿262
-
Cappuccino
-
$2.03฿67.7
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88MZN 55.4
$0.80฿26.64
10.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61MZN 38.37
$0.35฿11.68
74.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.29MZN 81.3
$2.14฿71.5
-39.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60MZN 101
$3.67฿122
-56.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nampula
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.74MZN 110
$1.73฿57.6
0.58%
White Bread(500g)
$0.48MZN 30.47
$1.57฿52.4
-69.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.07MZN 67.6
$1.20฿39.99
-10.83%
Eggs
$2.70MZN 171
$1.97฿65.8
37.06%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.15MZN 642
$16.23฿541
-37.46%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.43MZN 217
$3.06฿102
12.09%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$3.82MZN 242
$10.80฿360
-64.63%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65MZN 167
$2.77฿92.3
-4.33%
Banana(1kg)
$2.39MZN 151
$1.17฿38.94
104.27%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.02MZN 128
$1.71฿57.0
18.13%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.53MZN 96.5
$1.59฿53.2
-3.77%
Potato(1kg)
$1.42MZN 89.8
$1.39฿46.51
2.16%
Onion(1kg)
$1.77MZN 112
$1.16฿38.56
52.59%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.81MZN 51.1
$0.66฿22.05
22.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86MZN 54.7
$0.52฿17.31
65.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.65฿155
-
Wine(Bottle)
$6.11MZN 386
$17.78฿593
-65.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.29MZN 145
$1.79฿59.6
27.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.34฿111
-
🚌 Getting Around
Nampula
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.18MZN 11.43
$0.91฿30.27
-80.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$18.64฿622
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.57MZN 99.4
$1.41฿47.04
11.35%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.38MZN 151
$1.34฿44.70
77.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$8.11฿270
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MZN 97.3
$1.23฿41.16
25.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$21.4K฿715.1K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$21.8K฿728.0K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nampula
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$71.3฿2,379
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$14.01฿467
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$17.93฿598
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nampula
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$40.82฿1,362
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.88฿230
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$5.72฿191
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nampula
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$308฿10.3K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$14.7K฿489.7K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nampula
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$55.8฿1,860
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$26.04฿869
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.2MZN 5,833
$84.8฿2,829
8.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$71.0฿2,368
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nampula
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$423฿14.1K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$242฿8,088
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$920MZN 58.2K
$797฿26.6K
15.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$507฿16.9K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,918฿64.0K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,464฿48.8K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nampula
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$595฿19.9K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
5
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Nampula: July 27, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026
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
Nampula vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Nampula or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 188% more than Nampula, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. 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 Nampula and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $444 per month in Nampula and $1,279 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How much does it cost to live in Nampula compared to Chiang Mai?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $296 in Nampula and $852 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Are groceries more expensive in Nampula or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 32% 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 $1,000/month in Nampula or in Chiang Mai?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $296 in Nampula and $852 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Nampula or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Nampula costs $296 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 Nampula 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 Nampula or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Nampula. 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.