🙂A single person spends $529 per month in Nampula vs $932 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $708 per month in Nampula vs $1,399 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $887 per month in Nampula vs $1,866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Nampula is about 43% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both Nampula and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Nampula61% lower, Chiang Mai32% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nampula
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.63MZN 356
$2.08฿69.5
170.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$19.61฿655
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
-
$5.67฿189
-
Cappuccino
-
$1.81฿60.3
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80MZN 50.7
$0.77฿25.65
3.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.41MZN 25.81
$0.35฿11.53
17.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.57MZN 99.6
$2.21฿73.9
-28.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.79฿127
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nampula
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.78MZN 113
$2.05฿68.4
-13.17%
White Bread(500g)
$0.49MZN 31.14
$1.51฿50.6
-67.55%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.10MZN 69.7
$1.40฿46.69
-21.43%
Eggs
$2.82MZN 178
$2.26฿75.4
24.78%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.01MZN 633
$16.19฿540
-38.17%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.42MZN 217
$2.90฿96.7
17.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$3.93MZN 248
$9.42฿314
-58.28%
Apples(1kg)
$2.62MZN 166
$2.68฿89.4
-2.24%
Banana(1kg)
$2.32MZN 147
$1.09฿36.37
112.84%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.95MZN 123
$1.62฿54.0
20.37%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.52MZN 96.2
$1.46฿48.74
4.11%
Potato(1kg)
$1.41MZN 89.4
$1.28฿42.65
10.16%
Onion(1kg)
$1.69MZN 107
$1.06฿35.31
59.43%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.79MZN 49.81
$0.72฿23.94
9.72%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85MZN 53.5
$0.53฿17.56
60.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.23฿141
-
Wine(Bottle)
$6.36MZN 402
$18.29฿611
-65.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.39MZN 151
$1.63฿54.4
46.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.90฿96.8
-
🚌 Getting Around
Nampula
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.17MZN 10.45
$0.88฿29.32
-80.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$53.8฿1,795
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.54MZN 97.4
$1.17฿39.14
31.62%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.42MZN 153
$0.58฿19.30
317.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$2.39฿79.6
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.50MZN 95.0
$1.45฿48.41
3.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$21.0K฿701.4K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$26.4K฿882.0K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nampula
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$120MZN 7,577
$63.7฿2,125
88.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.82MZN 2,139
$12.89฿430
162.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$125MZN 7,905
$20.52฿685
509.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nampula
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$39.02฿1,302
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.92฿131
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$6.58฿220
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nampula
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$784฿26.2K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$14.7K฿489.8K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nampula
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$55.1฿1,840
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$24.74฿826
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$94.1฿3,142
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$74.0฿2,469
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nampula
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$490฿16.4K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$288฿9,620
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$927MZN 58.6K
$891฿29.8K
3.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$521฿17.4K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,974฿65.9K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,444฿48.2K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nampula
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$602฿20.1K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
5.57
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Nampula: September 14, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 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 76% more than Nampula, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. 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 $794 per month in Nampula and $1,398 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 $529 in Nampula and $932 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 30% 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 $1,500/month in Nampula or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Nampula, where all-in costs run around $529, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Nampula it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Nampula or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Nampula costs $529 versus $932 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.