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

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $426 per month in Zawiya vs $950 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $654 per month in Zawiya vs $1,430 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $881 per month in Zawiya vs $1,909 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Zawiya is about 55% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Zawiya and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Zawiya 69% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.30 LYD 14.53

$2.10 ฿69.3

9.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.04 LYD 94.9

$19.84 ฿656

-24.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.54 LYD 16.00

$5.79 ฿191

-56.13%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.48 LYD 3.06

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.62 LYD 3.90

Cappuccino

$0.42 LYD 2.63

$1.83 ฿60.4

-77.05%

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

$0.42 LYD 2.64

$0.78 ฿25.61

-46.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.09 LYD 0.57

$0.31 ฿10.37

-70.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$0.91 LYD 5.72

$2.03 ฿67.1

-55.17%

White Bread (500g)

$0.20 LYD 1.26

$1.60 ฿52.7

-87.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 LYD 7.05

$1.42 ฿46.75

-21.13%

Eggs

$1.03 LYD 6.48

$2.18 ฿71.9

-52.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.66 LYD 29.43

$15.91 ฿526

-70.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.32 LYD 20.97

$3.07 ฿102

8.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.86 LYD 55.9

$9.87 ฿326

-10.23%

Apples (1kg)

$1.85 LYD 11.70

$2.63 ฿86.8

-29.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.24 LYD 7.83

$1.10 ฿36.19

12.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.71 LYD 4.47

$1.63 ฿53.8

-56.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.53 LYD 3.32

$1.53 ฿50.6

-65.36%

Potato (1kg)

$0.49 LYD 3.09

$1.24 ฿41.13

-60.48%

Onion (1kg)

$0.27 LYD 1.70

$1.13 ฿37.37

-76.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.30 LYD 1.88

$0.74 ฿24.38

-59.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.18 LYD 1.13

$0.50 ฿16.48

-64.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.77 LYD 4.89

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 LYD 4.63

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.81 LYD 5.14

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.67 LYD 10.55

$4.28 ฿141

-60.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.77 LYD 4.84

$0.94 ฿31.13

-18.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.03 LYD 246

$55.3 ฿1,827

-29.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.78 LYD 4.92

$1.23 ฿40.76

-36.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 LYD 3.11

$0.53 ฿17.66

-7.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 LYD 15.16

$2.40 ฿79.3

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.02 LYD 0.13

$1.44 ฿47.55

-98.61%

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

$15.6K LYD 98.8K

$21.2K ฿700.2K

-26.17%

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

$14.0K LYD 88.5K

$27.3K ฿902.1K

-48.64%

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

$93.3 LYD 589

$64.9 ฿2,145

43.71%

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

$5.67 LYD 35.81

$13.35 ฿441

-57.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.23 LYD 77.2

$20.83 ฿688

-41.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.20 LYD 109

$40.42 ฿1,336

-57.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 LYD 24.75

$3.95 ฿131

-0.76%

Cinema Ticket

$3.85 LYD 24.32

$6.71 ฿222

-42.62%

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

$52.7 LYD 332

$787 ฿26.0K

-93.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$628 LYD 3,966

$15.1K ฿499.6K

-95.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.22 LYD 134

$56.2 ฿1,858

-62.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.59 LYD 111

$24.95 ฿824

-29.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$27.97 LYD 177

$92.7 ฿3,063

-69.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$31.76 LYD 200

$75.1 ฿2,482

-57.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$91.1 LYD 575

$484 ฿16.0K

-81.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$58.2 LYD 367

$287 ฿9,491

-79.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$171 LYD 1,082

$910 ฿30.1K

-81.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$116 LYD 735

$531 ฿17.5K

-78.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$469 LYD 2,960

$1,980 ฿65.4K

-76.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$38.80 LYD 245

$1,451 ฿47.9K

-97.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$255 LYD 1,611

$605 ฿20.0K

-57.82%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Zawiya: September 6, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $91.1 in Zawiya versus $484 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 137% 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 $15.00 in Zawiya versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $104 vs $242 – making Zawiya the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

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

Chiang Mai costs about 123% more than Zawiya, 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 $639 per month in Zawiya and $1,426 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $52.7 per month in Zawiya and $787 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 132% 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 Zawiya, where all-in costs run around $426, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Zawiya 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. Zawiya costs $426 versus $950 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 Zawiya. 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.