🙂A single person spends $286 per month in Nampula vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $466 per month in Nampula vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $645 per month in Nampula vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Nampula is about 66% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Nampula and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Nampula79% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nampula
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.31MZN 274
$1.96฿63.6
119.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$18.81฿611
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
-
$7.92฿258
-
Cappuccino
-
$1.91฿62.2
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82MZN 52.3
$0.84฿27.25
-2.38%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62MZN 39.29
$0.35฿11.44
77.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.26MZN 80.5
$2.21฿71.7
-42.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.53MZN 97.5
$3.80฿124
-59.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nampula
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.80MZN 114
$1.64฿53.2
9.76%
White Bread(500g)
$0.45MZN 28.90
$1.62฿52.8
-72.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.12MZN 71.3
$1.18฿38.40
-5.08%
Eggs
$2.74MZN 174
$2.01฿65.4
36.32%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.96MZN 634
$15.89฿517
-37.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.48MZN 222
$3.01฿98.0
15.61%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$3.82MZN 243
$10.77฿350
-64.53%
Apples(1kg)
$2.70MZN 172
$2.61฿85.0
3.45%
Banana(1kg)
$2.38MZN 152
$1.22฿39.65
95.08%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.04MZN 130
$1.70฿55.4
20.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.52MZN 96.7
$1.58฿51.2
-3.80%
Potato(1kg)
$1.45MZN 92.5
$1.32฿42.89
9.85%
Onion(1kg)
$1.78MZN 113
$1.17฿38.01
52.14%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.80MZN 50.9
$0.67฿21.85
19.40%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.89MZN 56.4
$0.56฿18.21
58.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.53฿147
-
Wine(Bottle)
$6.23MZN 396
$18.20฿592
-65.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.37MZN 151
$1.83฿59.6
29.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.23฿105
-
🚌 Getting Around
Nampula
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.14MZN 8.95
$0.89฿28.83
-84.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$19.38฿630
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.53MZN 97.3
$1.35฿43.95
13.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.33MZN 148
$1.35฿43.79
72.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$8.25฿268
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.55MZN 98.4
$1.27฿41.40
22.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$21.2K฿687.8K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$22.5K฿731.0K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nampula
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$70.2฿2,281
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$13.77฿448
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$17.60฿572
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nampula
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$41.57฿1,352
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.60฿215
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$5.78฿188
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nampula
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$306฿9,953
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$14.8K฿482.0K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nampula
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$54.4฿1,768
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$26.14฿850
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.9MZN 5,974
$84.5฿2,748
11.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$69.4฿2,257
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nampula
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$424฿13.8K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$238฿7,743
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$948MZN 60.4K
$825฿26.8K
14.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$515฿16.7K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,049฿66.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,523฿49.5K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nampula
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$635฿20.6K
-
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: April 26, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 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 198% 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 vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $430 per month in Nampula and $1,278 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 $286 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 Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 31% 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 Chiang Mai?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $286 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 $286 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 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.