🙂A single person spends $291 per month in Nampula vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $472 per month in Nampula vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $653 per month in Nampula vs $1,855 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Nampula is about 67% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Nampula and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Nampula78% lower, Chiang Mai35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nampula
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.37MZN 277
$1.98฿64.3
120.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$18.80฿612
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
-
$7.75฿252
-
Cappuccino
-
$1.92฿62.5
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88MZN 55.8
$0.79฿25.79
11.39%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61MZN 38.73
$0.36฿11.62
69.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.26MZN 79.8
$2.21฿72.1
-42.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60MZN 101
$3.66฿119
-56.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nampula
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.82MZN 115
$1.65฿53.8
10.30%
White Bread(500g)
$0.46MZN 28.90
$1.63฿53.2
-71.78%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.08MZN 68.3
$1.19฿38.86
-9.24%
Eggs
$2.73MZN 172
$2.00฿65.1
36.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.88MZN 625
$15.98฿520
-38.17%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.37MZN 213
$3.03฿98.5
11.22%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$3.89MZN 246
$10.86฿354
-64.18%
Apples(1kg)
$2.70MZN 170
$2.76฿90.0
-2.17%
Banana(1kg)
$2.41MZN 153
$1.18฿38.42
104.24%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.04MZN 129
$1.64฿53.5
24.39%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.58MZN 99.7
$1.52฿49.51
3.95%
Potato(1kg)
$1.43MZN 90.3
$1.38฿45.10
3.62%
Onion(1kg)
$1.78MZN 112
$1.19฿38.84
49.58%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.75MZN 47.75
$0.70฿22.86
7.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81MZN 51.2
$0.56฿18.13
44.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.58฿149
-
Wine(Bottle)
$6.28MZN 397
$16.56฿539
-62.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.40MZN 152
$1.83฿59.5
31.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.20฿104
-
🚌 Getting Around
Nampula
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.17MZN 10.47
$0.88฿28.56
-80.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$18.72฿610
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.52MZN 96.3
$1.36฿44.16
11.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.33MZN 148
$1.34฿43.65
73.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$7.84฿256
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.51MZN 95.4
$1.23฿39.92
22.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$21.6K฿704.3K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$22.5K฿734.3K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nampula
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$70.5฿2,298
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$13.68฿445
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$17.45฿568
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nampula
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$41.33฿1,346
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.96฿227
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$5.77฿188
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nampula
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$307฿10.0K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$14.6K฿475.9K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nampula
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$55.8฿1,817
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$26.21฿854
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.1MZN 6,014
$85.8฿2,793
10.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$72.2฿2,353
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nampula
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$430฿14.0K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$239฿7,774
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$938MZN 59.3K
$817฿26.6K
14.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$511฿16.6K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,983฿64.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,484฿48.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nampula
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$619฿20.2K
-
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: June 8, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 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 199% 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 $436 per month in Nampula and $1,303 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 $291 in Nampula and $869 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 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 $1,000/month in Nampula or Chiang Mai?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $291 in Nampula and $869 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 $291 versus $869 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.