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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,260 per month in Asahikawa vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,930 per month in Asahikawa vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,600 per month in Asahikawa vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Asahikawa costs about 45% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Asahikawa and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Asahikawa 6% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.03 ¥1,128

$1.94 ฿63.8

262.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.30 ¥5,498

$18.64 ฿611

84.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.26 ¥843

$7.82 ฿256

-32.74%

Cappuccino

$3.05 ¥489

$1.95 ฿64.1

56.41%

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

$1.10 ¥176

$0.85 ฿27.88

29.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 ¥120

$0.35 ฿11.63

114.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.67 ¥428

$2.13 ฿69.9

25.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.21 ¥515

$3.73 ฿122

-13.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.57 ¥252

$1.71 ฿56.2

-8.19%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ¥256

$1.63 ฿53.4

-1.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.76 ¥763

$1.14 ฿37.30

317.54%

Eggs

$2.19 ¥351

$1.93 ฿63.4

13.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.01 ¥1,605

$16.21 ฿532

-38.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.46 ¥1,036

$3.12 ฿102

107.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.45 ¥2,476

$10.90 ฿357

41.74%

Apples (1kg)

$5.38 ¥862

$2.75 ฿90.3

95.64%

Banana (1kg)

$2.52 ¥403

$1.21 ฿39.68

108.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.92 ¥628

$1.62 ฿53.2

141.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.85 ¥938

$1.59 ฿52.0

267.92%

Potato (1kg)

$3.00 ¥481

$1.40 ฿45.89

114.29%

Onion (1kg)

$2.57 ¥411

$1.17 ฿38.32

119.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.34 ¥214

$0.66 ฿21.69

103.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 ¥135

$0.53 ฿17.29

60.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.15 ¥665

$4.69 ฿154

-11.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.30 ¥1,330

$18.66 ฿612

-55.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.93 ¥309

$1.80 ฿59.0

7.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ¥344

$3.23 ฿106

-33.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.60 ¥256

$0.90 ฿29.37

77.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.4 ¥8,873

$19.21 ฿630

188.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.45 ¥552

$1.41 ฿46.10

144.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.88 ¥462

$1.29 ฿42.29

123.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$20.60 ¥3,301

$7.84 ฿257

162.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ¥199

$1.27 ฿41.75

-2.36%

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

$22.8K ¥3.7M

$21.3K ฿697.7K

7.23%

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

$17.5K ¥2.8M

$22.2K ฿728.3K

-21.20%

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

$144 ¥23.1K

$69.1 ฿2,265

108.92%

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

$26.66 ¥4,274

$14.08 ฿462

89.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.80 ¥5,418

$18.00 ฿590

87.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.9 ¥8,806

$41.06 ฿1,346

33.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.62 ¥2,183

$6.96 ฿228

95.69%

Cinema Ticket

$12.65 ¥2,028

$5.92 ฿194

113.68%

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

$278 ¥44.6K

$299 ฿9,805

-6.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.5K ¥2.2M

$15.0K ฿490.3K

-9.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$43.37 ¥6,952

$54.7 ฿1,794

-20.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.90 ¥4,792

$26.77 ฿878

11.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.3 ¥9,669

$85.0 ฿2,787

-29.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.8 ¥14.7K

$70.6 ฿2,315

30.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$463 ¥74.2K

$428 ฿14.0K

8.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$335 ¥53.7K

$237 ฿7,782

41.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$870 ¥139.4K

$801 ฿26.3K

8.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$670 ¥107.4K

$515 ฿16.9K

29.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,829 ¥774.1K

$1,975 ฿64.7K

144.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,679 ¥429.4K

$1,475 ฿48.4K

81.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.78

-64.40%

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

Last update for Asahikawa: June 2, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $463 in Asahikawa versus $428 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $34.00 in Asahikawa versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $315 vs $246 – 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $1,260 in Asahikawa, $866 in Chiang Mai – roughly 45% apart. Asahikawa costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,890 per month in Asahikawa and $1,300 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.

Public transport costs about 188% less in Chiang Mai. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $278 per month in Asahikawa and $299 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Asahikawa at $1,260. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Asahikawa it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $866 in Chiang Mai to $1,260 in Asahikawa. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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, Asahikawa makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.