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

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $113 per month in Zimba vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $176 per month in Zimba vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $239 per month in Zimba vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Zimba is about 87% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Zimba and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Zimba 92% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.48 ZMW 44.24

$7.82 ฿255

-68.29%

Cappuccino

$1.25 ZMW 22.33

$1.95 ฿63.8

-35.90%

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

$0.63 ZMW 11.33

$0.85 ฿27.77

-25.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ZMW 5.40

$0.35 ฿11.58

-14.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.60 ZMW 10.70

$2.13 ฿69.6

-71.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.80 ZMW 14.27

$3.73 ฿122

-78.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

White Bread (500g)

$0.85 ZMW 15.21

$1.63 ฿53.2

-47.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 ZMW 22.73

$1.14 ฿37.15

11.40%

Eggs

$1.11 ZMW 19.85

$1.93 ฿63.1

-42.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$2.88 ZMW 51.4

$10.90 ฿356

-73.58%

Apples (1kg)

$1.48 ZMW 26.34

$2.75 ฿90.0

-46.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.26 ZMW 22.50

$1.21 ฿39.52

4.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.42 ZMW 43.16

$1.62 ฿53.0

49.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.60 ZMW 10.68

$1.59 ฿51.8

-62.26%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

Onion (1kg)

$0.61 ZMW 10.89

$1.17 ฿38.17

-47.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ZMW 13.18

$0.66 ฿21.60

12.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 ZMW 6.97

$0.53 ฿17.22

-26.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

Wine (Bottle)

$6.58 ZMW 117

$18.66 ฿609

-64.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 ZMW 10.82

$1.80 ฿58.8

-66.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 ZMW 14.64

$3.23 ฿106

-74.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

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)

$7.84 ฿256

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

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)

$14.08 ฿460

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

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)

$54.7 ฿1,787

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Zimba: May 30, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 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

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

Chiang Mai costs about 665% more than Zimba, 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 $170 per month in Zimba and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $113 in Zimba and $866 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 204% 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 $113 in Zimba and $866 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Zimba costs $113 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 Zimba. 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.