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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,123 per month in Aichi vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,801 per month in Aichi vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,480 per month in Aichi vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Aichi costs about 30% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Aichi and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Aichi 16% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.95 ¥1,129

$1.96 ฿65.8

254.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.28 ¥5,244

$18.35 ฿617

75.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.66 ¥919

$7.48 ฿252

-24.33%

Cappuccino

$3.06 ¥497

$2.02 ฿67.8

51.49%

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

$1.02 ¥166

$0.85 ฿28.50

20.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 ¥125

$0.36 ฿11.96

113.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.05 ¥332

$2.14 ฿71.8

-4.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ¥516

$3.59 ฿121

-11.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.56 ¥253

$1.65 ฿55.5

-5.45%

White Bread (500g)

$1.66 ¥270

$1.57 ฿52.7

5.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.72 ¥604

$1.19 ฿40.02

212.61%

Eggs

$2.20 ¥358

$1.94 ฿65.1

13.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.97 ¥1,620

$16.19 ฿544

-38.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.12 ¥995

$2.99 ฿101

104.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.39 ¥2,501

$10.94 ฿368

40.68%

Apples (1kg)

$2.78 ¥452

$2.71 ฿91.2

2.58%

Banana (1kg)

$2.11 ¥342

$1.17 ฿39.25

80.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.03 ¥330

$1.69 ฿56.7

20.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.81 ¥457

$1.60 ฿54.0

75.63%

Potato (1kg)

$2.05 ¥333

$1.38 ฿46.54

48.55%

Onion (1kg)

$1.70 ¥276

$1.20 ฿40.45

41.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.33 ¥216

$0.67 ฿22.50

98.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 ¥136

$0.56 ฿18.73

50.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.25 ¥691

$4.64 ฿156

-8.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.97 ¥1,457

$17.62 ฿593

-49.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 ¥285

$1.86 ฿62.5

-5.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 ¥336

$3.30 ฿111

-37.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.49 ¥242

$0.88 ฿29.68

69.32%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.4 ¥8,835

$19.34 ฿650

181.18%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.39 ¥550

$1.36 ฿45.90

149.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.03 ¥492

$1.34 ฿44.98

126.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.33 ¥3,628

$8.21 ฿276

171.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ¥200

$1.22 ฿41.18

0.82%

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

$23.0K ¥3.7M

$21.4K ฿718.1K

7.81%

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

$18.8K ¥3.1M

$22.5K ฿757.7K

-16.44%

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

$105 ¥17.1K

$70.7 ฿2,376

49.07%

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

$21.01 ¥3,414

$14.04 ฿472

49.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.93 ¥5,513

$17.49 ฿588

94.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.78 ¥5,651

$42.15 ฿1,417

-17.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.04 ¥1,143

$6.88 ฿231

2.33%

Cinema Ticket

$13.52 ¥2,196

$5.92 ฿199

128.38%

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

$282 ¥45.8K

$309 ฿10.4K

-8.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.8K ¥2.2M

$14.9K ฿500.4K

-7.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.36 ¥6,721

$55.8 ฿1,875

-25.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.23 ¥4,749

$26.11 ฿878

11.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$59.4 ¥9,653

$83.0 ฿2,792

-28.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 ¥16.6K

$70.5 ฿2,369

44.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$444 ¥72.2K

$432 ฿14.5K

2.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$328 ¥53.3K

$239 ฿8,035

37.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,044 ¥169.5K

$822 ฿27.7K

26.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$692 ¥112.4K

$512 ฿17.2K

35.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,772 ¥287.9K

$1,915 ฿64.4K

-7.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$937 ¥152.2K

$1,467 ฿49.3K

-36.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,531 ¥248.8K

$579 ฿19.5K

164.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.05

-59.00%

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

Last update for Aichi: July 13, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $444 in Aichi versus $432 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 164% higher in Aichi, 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 $32.00 in Aichi versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $267 vs $243 – making Chiang Mai 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

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

Aichi costs about 30% more than Chiang Mai, 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 $1,685 per month in Aichi and $1,292 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, 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 $1,123 in Aichi and $861 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 181% less in Chiang Mai. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $861, than in Aichi at $1,123. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Aichi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $861 versus $1,123 in Aichi. 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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Aichi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.