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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $634 per month in Anqing vs $947 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $993 per month in Anqing vs $1,411 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,351 per month in Anqing vs $1,874 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Anqing is about 33% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Anqing and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Anqing 54% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Anqing
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.58 ¥17.33
$2.08 ฿68.6
24.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.85 ¥133
$19.64 ฿646
1.07%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.12 ¥41.07
$5.65 ฿186
8.32%
Cappuccino
$2.19 ¥14.71
$1.81 ฿59.4
20.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 ¥3.09
$0.71 ฿23.45
-35.21%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21 ¥1.41
$0.32 ฿10.38
-34.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.06 ¥7.14
$2.24 ฿73.6
-52.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 ¥8.82
$3.63 ฿119
-63.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Anqing
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.02 ¥6.81
$1.96 ฿64.4
-47.96%
White Bread (500g)
$1.45 ¥9.76
$1.50 ฿49.39
-3.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.93 ¥6.27
$1.34 ฿43.93
-30.60%
Eggs
$0.92 ¥6.18
$2.26 ฿74.5
-59.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.44 ¥90.2
$16.26 ฿535
-17.34%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.54 ¥23.73
$2.95 ฿97.1
20.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.51 ¥77.2
$9.94 ฿327
15.79%
Apples (1kg)
$2.27 ¥15.26
$2.57 ฿84.6
-11.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.26 ¥8.48
$1.06 ฿34.73
18.87%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.39 ¥9.31
$1.61 ฿53.0
-13.66%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.13 ¥7.59
$1.52 ฿49.97
-25.66%
Potato (1kg)
$0.81 ¥5.43
$1.27 ฿41.77
-36.22%
Onion (1kg)
$0.76 ¥5.07
$1.07 ฿35.06
-28.97%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.37 ¥2.49
$0.72 ฿23.68
-48.61%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.38 ¥2.57
$0.51 ฿16.72
-25.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.64 ¥44.56
$4.19 ฿138
58.47%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.90 ¥79.9
$17.87 ฿587
-33.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.73 ¥4.88
$1.69 ฿55.7
-56.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 ¥10.10
$2.84 ฿93.3
-46.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Anqing
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.93 ฿30.43
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$53.9 ฿1,771
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.94 ¥6.32
$1.23 ฿40.59
-23.58%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.24 ¥1.60
$0.58 ฿18.96
-58.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.93 ¥19.69
$2.42 ฿79.7
21.07%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.17 ¥7.83
$1.41 ฿46.43
-17.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4K ¥130.4K
$21.4K ฿705.1K
-9.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.8K ¥112.5K
$27.3K ฿898.7K
-38.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Anqing
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$58.4 ¥392
$63.7 ฿2,093
-8.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.21 ¥55.1
$12.85 ฿423
-36.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.82 ¥59.2
$20.22 ฿665
-56.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Anqing
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$75.1 ¥504
$38.74 ฿1,274
93.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.04 ¥101
$3.97 ฿130
278.84%
Cinema Ticket
$5.22 ¥35.00
$6.74 ฿222
-22.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Anqing
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$219 ¥1,472
$778 ฿25.6K
-71.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,522 ¥63.9K
$14.6K ฿480.4K
-34.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Anqing
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.25 ¥169
$54.3 ฿1,785
-53.49%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.92 ¥140
$25.45 ฿837
-17.80%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.3 ¥532
$94.3 ฿3,102
-15.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$33.44 ¥224
$73.4 ฿2,415
-54.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Anqing
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$186 ¥1,248
$490 ฿16.1K
-62.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$135 ¥903
$289 ฿9,512
-53.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$352 ¥2,364
$894 ฿29.4K
-60.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$234 ¥1,569
$517 ฿17.0K
-54.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$13.0K ¥87.5K
$1,955 ฿64.3K
566.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,493 ¥43.6K
$1,477 ฿48.6K
339.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Anqing
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$795 ¥5,335
$602 ฿19.8K
32.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3
5.57
-46.14%

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

Last update for Anqing: September 1, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $186 in Anqing 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 32% higher in Anqing, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Anqing versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $195 vs $240 – making Anqing 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
Anqing vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Anqing and in Chiang Mai compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $634 in Anqing, $947 in Chiang Mai – roughly 49% apart. Chiang Mai costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Anqing compared to Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $952 per month in Anqing and $1,421 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Anqing and Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Anqing, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Anqing and $20.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 23% 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.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Anqing, where all-in costs run around $634, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Anqing it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Anqing and Chiang Mai?
It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $634 in Anqing to $947 in Chiang Mai. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Anqing or Chiang Mai safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Anqing and Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Anqing. 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.

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