😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,243 in Amagasaki versus $852 in Chiang Mai.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,961 in Amagasaki versus $1,354 in Chiang Mai.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,680 in Amagasaki versus $1,857 in Chiang Mai.
😐Living in Amagasaki is roughly 46% more expensive than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Amagasaki7% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Amagasaki
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.01¥1,119
$1.96฿63.6
257.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.19¥5,454
$18.81฿611
81.77%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.29¥844
$7.92฿258
-33.21%
Cappuccino
$3.13¥500
$1.91฿62.2
63.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05¥168
$0.84฿27.25
25.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81¥130
$0.35฿11.44
131.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.62¥417
$2.21฿71.7
18.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17¥506
$3.80฿124
-16.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Amagasaki
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.54¥246
$1.64฿53.2
-6.10%
White Bread(500g)
$1.55¥247
$1.62฿52.8
-4.32%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.84¥772
$1.18฿38.40
310.17%
Eggs
$2.21¥352
$2.01฿65.4
9.95%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.15¥1,620
$15.89฿517
-36.12%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.22¥992
$3.01฿98.0
106.64%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.38¥2,453
$10.77฿350
42.80%
Apples(1kg)
$5.43¥867
$2.61฿85.0
108.05%
Banana(1kg)
$2.63¥420
$1.22฿39.65
115.57%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.08¥651
$1.70฿55.4
140.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.95¥950
$1.58฿51.2
276.58%
Potato(1kg)
$3.17¥506
$1.32฿42.89
140.15%
Onion(1kg)
$2.61¥416
$1.17฿38.01
123.08%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.38¥220
$0.67฿21.85
105.97%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90¥144
$0.56฿18.21
60.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.28¥683
$4.53฿147
-5.52%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.06¥1,285
$18.20฿592
-55.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83¥291
$1.83฿59.6
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27¥362
$3.23฿105
-29.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Amagasaki
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.65¥263
$0.89฿28.83
85.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$56.2¥8,959
$19.38฿630
189.73%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.49¥556
$1.35฿43.95
158.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.98¥475
$1.35฿43.79
120.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$21.00¥3,350
$8.25฿268
154.55%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.23¥196
$1.27฿41.40
-3.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.6K¥3.8M
$21.2K฿687.8K
11.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.2K¥2.7M
$22.5K฿731.0K
-23.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Amagasaki
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$141¥22.6K
$70.2฿2,281
101.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.60¥4,404
$13.77฿448
100.44%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.23¥5,460
$17.60฿572
94.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Amagasaki
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$56.1¥8,949
$41.57฿1,352
34.93%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.00¥2,233
$6.60฿215
112.12%
Cinema Ticket
$12.61¥2,011
$5.78฿188
118.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Amagasaki
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$279¥44.5K
$306฿9,953
-8.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.5K¥2.2M
$14.8K฿482.0K
-8.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Amagasaki
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.57¥6,952
$54.4฿1,768
-19.86%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.71¥4,740
$26.14฿850
13.66%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$60.1¥9,595
$84.5฿2,748
-28.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.2¥14.6K
$69.4฿2,257
31.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Amagasaki
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$463¥73.9K
$424฿13.8K
9.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$330¥52.6K
$238฿7,743
38.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$856¥136.6K
$825฿26.8K
3.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663¥105.8K
$515฿16.7K
28.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,646¥741.2K
$2,049฿66.6K
126.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,523฿49.5K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Amagasaki
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,944¥469.6K
$635฿20.6K
363.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
1.78
5
-64.40%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Amagasaki: April 28, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $463 in Amagasaki and $424 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Amagasaki pays 363% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $34.00 in Amagasaki vs $19.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $317 vs $243 per month, with Chiang Mai cheaper across the board.
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
Amagasaki vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Amagasaki and Chiang Mai?
Amagasaki and Chiang Mai differ by about 46% in total monthly costs ($1,243 vs $852 including rent). Chiang Mai is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Amagasaki or Chiang Mai?
Amagasaki pays 363% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Amagasaki and Chiang Mai?
Rent for a central apartment: $463 in Amagasaki versus $424 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 30% higher in Amagasaki. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Chiang Mai – a meal for two runs $19.00 versus $34.00 in Amagasaki. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $852 in Chiang Mai versus $1,243 in Amagasaki, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Amagasaki. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Amagasaki and Chiang Mai?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Amagasaki or Chiang Mai safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Amagasaki and Chiang Mai are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Amagasaki or Chiang Mai?
Expats usually find Chiang Mai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 46% less than in Amagasaki. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.