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 $581 per month in Zanzibar vs $947 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $872 per month in Zanzibar vs $1,411 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,163 per month in Zanzibar vs $1,874 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Zanzibar is about 39% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Zanzibar and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Zanzibar 58% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.70 TZS 12.4K

$2.08 ฿68.6

125.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.77 TZS 57.2K

$19.64 ฿646

10.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.50 TZS 14.5K

$5.65 ฿186

-2.65%

Cappuccino

$2.13 TZS 5,598

$1.81 ฿59.4

17.68%

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

$0.63 TZS 1,649

$0.71 ฿23.45

-11.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 TZS 805

$0.32 ฿10.38

-3.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.93 TZS 5,067

$2.24 ฿73.6

-13.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 TZS 6,772

$3.63 ฿119

-28.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.07 TZS 5,438

$1.96 ฿64.4

5.61%

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 TZS 1,978

$1.50 ฿49.39

-50.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.86 TZS 2,251

$1.34 ฿43.93

-35.82%

Eggs

$2.68 TZS 7,052

$2.26 ฿74.5

18.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.66 TZS 20.1K

$16.26 ฿535

-52.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.26 TZS 5,939

$2.95 ฿97.1

-23.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.07 TZS 16.0K

$9.94 ฿327

-38.93%

Apples (1kg)

$2.92 TZS 7,665

$2.57 ฿84.6

13.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 TZS 2,919

$1.06 ฿34.73

4.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.74 TZS 1,951

$1.61 ฿53.0

-54.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.58 TZS 1,528

$1.52 ฿49.97

-61.84%

Potato (1kg)

$0.98 TZS 2,565

$1.27 ฿41.77

-22.83%

Onion (1kg)

$1.55 TZS 4,079

$1.07 ฿35.06

44.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 TZS 1,946

$0.72 ฿23.68

2.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 TZS 1,269

$0.51 ฿16.72

-5.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.17 TZS 5,697

$4.19 ฿138

-48.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.59 TZS 25.2K

$17.87 ฿587

-46.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.55 TZS 4,062

$1.69 ฿55.7

-8.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.36 TZS 3,567

$2.84 ฿93.3

-52.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 TZS 759

$0.93 ฿30.43

-68.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,771

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.81 TZS 10.0K

$1.23 ฿40.59

209.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 TZS 1,951

$0.58 ฿18.96

27.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.62 TZS 6,884

$2.42 ฿79.7

8.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 TZS 3,039

$1.41 ฿46.43

-17.73%

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

$21.4K ฿705.1K

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

$49.2K TZS 129.3M

$27.3K ฿898.7K

79.88%

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

$73.7 TZS 193.8K

$63.7 ฿2,093

15.80%

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

$11.50 TZS 30.2K

$12.85 ฿423

-10.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.70 TZS 128.0K

$20.22 ฿665

140.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.70 TZS 78.1K

$38.74 ฿1,274

-23.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$9.66 TZS 25.4K

$6.74 ฿222

43.32%

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

$778 ฿25.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿480.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.13 TZS 34.5K

$54.3 ฿1,785

-75.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.74 TZS 44.0K

$25.45 ฿837

-34.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$15.38 TZS 40.4K

$94.3 ฿3,102

-83.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$12.98 TZS 34.1K

$73.4 ฿2,415

-82.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$150 TZS 393.4K

$490 ฿16.1K

-69.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$101 TZS 264.6K

$289 ฿9,512

-65.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$203 TZS 534.6K

$894 ฿29.4K

-77.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$149 TZS 392.4K

$517 ฿17.0K

-71.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$37.5K TZS 98.6M

$1,955 ฿64.3K

1819.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.6K TZS 30.4M

$1,477 ฿48.6K

682.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$312 TZS 820.9K

$602 ฿19.8K

-48.14%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

79.53%

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

Last update for Zanzibar: August 31, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $150 in Zanzibar versus $490 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 93% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $166 in Zanzibar vs $240 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 63% more than Zanzibar, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $871 per month in Zanzibar and $1,421 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 $581 in Zanzibar and $947 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 45% 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 Zanzibar, where all-in costs run around $581, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Zanzibar 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. Zanzibar costs $581 versus $947 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.