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

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $591 per month in Shurugwi vs $920 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $958 per month in Shurugwi vs $1,408 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,325 per month in Shurugwi vs $1,895 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Shurugwi is about 36% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Shurugwi and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Shurugwi 57% lower, Chiang Mai 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.93 ZWL 265

$2.11 ฿69.1

370.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.18 ZWL 1,071

$19.75 ฿648

103.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.99 ZWL 160

$5.85 ฿192

2.39%

Cappuccino

$1.71 ZWL 45.67

$1.76 ฿57.8

-2.84%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.93 ZWL 24.87

$0.74 ฿24.37

25.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ZWL 13.23

$0.33 ฿10.90

51.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.52 ZWL 40.40

$2.47 ฿81.0

-38.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 ZWL 54.3

$3.88 ฿127

-47.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.53 ZWL 40.88

$1.90 ฿62.4

-19.47%

White Bread (500g)

$0.98 ZWL 26.08

$1.67 ฿54.7

-41.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.69 ZWL 45.12

$1.35 ฿44.24

25.19%

Eggs

$1.89 ZWL 50.4

$2.14 ฿70.2

-11.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.95 ZWL 319

$15.89 ฿521

-24.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.71 ZWL 152

$2.83 ฿92.9

101.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.76 ZWL 180

$10.53 ฿345

-35.80%

Apples (1kg)

$3.07 ZWL 82.0

$2.38 ฿78.2

28.99%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 ZWL 43.32

$1.07 ฿35.01

51.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.96 ZWL 52.3

$1.52 ฿49.79

28.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ZWL 38.96

$1.50 ฿49.30

-2.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.74 ZWL 46.35

$1.28 ฿41.96

35.94%

Onion (1kg)

$1.79 ZWL 47.84

$1.10 ฿36.17

62.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 ZWL 31.69

$0.69 ฿22.54

72.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 ZWL 26.82

$0.49 ฿16.18

106.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.04 ZWL 54.5

$4.27 ฿140

-52.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.25 ZWL 247

$16.78 ฿550

-44.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 ZWL 36.77

$1.66 ฿54.4

-16.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 ZWL 52.8

$2.81 ฿92.3

-29.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.44

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.9 ฿1,801

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.49 ZWL 120

$1.20 ฿39.24

274.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.97 ZWL 52.6

$0.54 ฿17.78

264.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.07 ZWL 135

$2.37 ฿77.9

113.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.73 ZWL 46.12

$1.43 ฿46.88

20.98%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$22.3K ZWL 594.0K

$21.1K ฿691.5K

5.71%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.1K ZWL 722.3K

$27.1K ฿890.2K

-0.14%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$54.0 ZWL 1,438

$64.7 ฿2,124

-16.67%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$21.26 ZWL 567

$13.19 ฿433

61.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.1 ZWL 1,763

$19.44 ฿638

240.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.45 ฿1,294

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿124

Cinema Ticket

$9.84 ZWL 262

$6.62 ฿217

48.64%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$455 ZWL 12.1K

$805 ฿26.4K

-43.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,084 ZWL 242.2K

$15.1K ฿496.1K

-39.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.12 ZWL 643

$54.8 ฿1,796

-55.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.67 ZWL 578

$25.43 ฿834

-14.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$38.82 ZWL 1,035

$91.9 ฿3,015

-57.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.49 ZWL 1,079

$74.7 ฿2,449

-45.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$467 ฿15.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$282 ฿9,251

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,985 ฿65.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,462 ฿48.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$592 ฿19.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.69

5.57

145.78%

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

Last update for Shurugwi: August 18, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 17, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $40.00 in Shurugwi versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $219 in Shurugwi vs $237 in Chiang Mai – so Shurugwi wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Shurugwi vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 56% more than Shurugwi, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $887 per month in Shurugwi and $1,380 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $40.00 in Shurugwi and $20.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 8% 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.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Shurugwi, where all-in costs run around $591, than in Chiang Mai at $920. In Shurugwi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Shurugwi costs $591 versus $920 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Shurugwi. 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.