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

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $451 per month in Zanzibar vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $702 per month in Zanzibar vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $954 per month in Zanzibar vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Zanzibar is about 48% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Zanzibar and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Zanzibar 66% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.87 TZS 12.6K

$1.94 ฿63.5

151.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.38 TZS 57.7K

$18.64 ฿609

20.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.83 TZS 15.0K

$7.82 ฿255

-25.45%

Cappuccino

$2.18 TZS 5,635

$1.95 ฿63.8

11.79%

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

$0.60 TZS 1,539

$0.85 ฿27.77

-29.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 TZS 792

$0.35 ฿11.58

-11.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.94 TZS 5,011

$2.13 ฿69.6

-8.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 TZS 7,141

$3.73 ฿122

-25.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.77 TZS 4,574

$1.71 ฿56.0

3.51%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 TZS 1,897

$1.63 ฿53.2

-54.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.87 TZS 2,236

$1.14 ฿37.15

-23.68%

Eggs

$2.87 TZS 7,396

$1.93 ฿63.1

48.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.28 TZS 5,872

$3.12 ฿102

-26.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.75 TZS 12.2K

$10.90 ฿356

-56.42%

Apples (1kg)

$2.92 TZS 7,541

$2.75 ฿90.0

6.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.13 TZS 2,908

$1.21 ฿39.52

-6.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.75 TZS 1,943

$1.62 ฿53.0

-53.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.59 TZS 1,530

$1.59 ฿51.8

-62.89%

Potato (1kg)

$0.93 TZS 2,386

$1.40 ฿45.70

-33.57%

Onion (1kg)

$1.58 TZS 4,062

$1.17 ฿38.17

35.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 TZS 1,916

$0.66 ฿21.60

12.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 TZS 1,184

$0.53 ฿17.22

-13.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.11 TZS 5,442

$4.69 ฿153

-55.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.55 TZS 24.6K

$18.66 ฿609

-48.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 TZS 4,520

$1.80 ฿58.8

-2.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.31 TZS 3,387

$3.23 ฿106

-59.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.65 TZS 1,664

$0.90 ฿29.26

-27.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.76 TZS 7,125

$7.84 ฿256

-64.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 TZS 3,101

$1.27 ฿41.58

-5.51%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

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

$10.46 TZS 27.0K

$14.08 ฿460

-25.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.74 TZS 58.6K

$18.00 ฿588

26.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.24 TZS 54.8K

$41.06 ฿1,341

-48.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$9.42 TZS 24.3K

$5.92 ฿193

59.12%

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

$299 ฿9,766

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.26 TZS 34.2K

$54.7 ฿1,787

-75.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.44 TZS 45.0K

$26.77 ฿874

-34.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$15.26 TZS 39.3K

$85.0 ฿2,776

-82.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$13.76 TZS 35.5K

$70.6 ฿2,306

-80.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$148 TZS 382.9K

$428 ฿14.0K

-65.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$99.0 TZS 255.4K

$237 ฿7,752

-58.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$202 TZS 520.2K

$801 ฿26.2K

-74.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$150 TZS 386.0K

$515 ฿16.8K

-70.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$38.5K TZS 99.3M

$1,975 ฿64.5K

1849.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.4K TZS 29.3M

$1,475 ฿48.2K

670.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$324 TZS 834.5K

$617 ฿20.2K

-47.60%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

100.00%

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

Last update for Zanzibar: June 2, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $148 in Zanzibar versus $428 in Chiang Mai. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 91% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $22.00 in Zanzibar versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $138 in Zanzibar vs $246 in Chiang Mai – so Zanzibar 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

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

Chiang Mai costs about 92% more than Zanzibar, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $676 per month in Zanzibar and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Zanzibar, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $451 in Zanzibar and $866 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 79% 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.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $451 in Zanzibar and $866 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Zanzibar costs $451 versus $866 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 Zanzibar. 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.