Cost of Living Comparison Between Beijing (Pekin) and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Beijing (Pekin) and Chiang Mai

😐 Solo nomad: Beijing (Pekin) is 2.1% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 20.1% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Beijing (Pekin) is 7.7% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 36.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Beijing (Pekin)
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.08 ¥29.26
$2.02 ฿65.3
101.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.3 ¥196
$18.78 ฿608
45.37%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.17 ¥37.06
$7.67 ฿248
-32.59%
Cappuccino
$3.09 ¥22.18
$1.98 ฿64.2
56.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45 ¥3.26
$0.82 ฿26.64
-45.12%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.3 ¥2.17
$0.33 ฿10.58
-9.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.09 ¥7.8
$2.12 ฿68.6
-48.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 ¥15.27
$3.73 ฿121
-42.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Beijing (Pekin)
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.69 ¥12.1
$1.64 ฿53.2
3.05%
White Bread (500g)
$1.64 ¥11.74
$1.57 ฿50.9
4.46%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.07 ¥7.66
$1.19 ฿38.62
-10.08%
Eggs
$1.67 ¥12.01
$1.98 ฿64.1
-15.66%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.01 ¥115
$15.99 ฿517
0.13%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.19 ¥22.88
$3.12 ฿101
2.24%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.51 ¥68.2
$11.16 ฿361
-14.78%
Apples (1kg)
$2.07 ¥14.88
$2.76 ฿89.2
-25.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 ¥11.28
$1.22 ฿39.5
28.69%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.8 ¥12.93
$1.71 ฿55.4
5.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.29 ¥9.23
$1.55 ฿50.2
-16.77%
Potato (1kg)
$0.84 ¥5.99
$1.34 ฿43.21
-37.31%
Onion (1kg)
$0.91 ¥6.55
$1.21 ฿39.23
-24.79%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.67 ¥4.83
$0.72 ฿23.2
-6.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ¥3.74
$0.53 ฿17.05
-1.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.45 ¥24.73
$4.72 ฿153
-26.91%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.69 ¥62.3
$18.39 ฿595
-52.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.8 ¥5.73
$1.79 ฿57.9
-55.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 ¥12.58
$3.21 ฿104
-45.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Beijing (Pekin)
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.54 ¥3.85
$0.94 ฿30.44
-42.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$31.25 ¥224
$18.9 ฿612
65.34%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.78 ¥12.73
$1.42 ฿46.08
25.35%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.33 ¥2.36
$1.35 ฿43.53
-75.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.64 ¥76.4
$7.85 ฿254
35.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 ¥8.19
$1.25 ฿40.4
-8.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7K ¥134.5K
$21.2K ฿684.9K
-11.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.6K ¥111.9K
$21.8K ฿706.8K
-28.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Beijing (Pekin)
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$52.2 ¥375
$70.6 ฿2,285
-26.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.86 ¥63.6
$13.72 ฿444
-35.42%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.53 ¥89.9
$17.56 ฿568
-28.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Beijing (Pekin)
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.38 ¥347
$41.64 ฿1,347
16.19%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.48 ¥133
$6.9 ฿223
167.83%
Cinema Ticket
$8.32 ¥59.7
$5.8 ฿188
43.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Beijing (Pekin)
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$664 ¥4,766
$308 ฿9,963
115.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24K ¥172.3K
$14.7K ฿475.8K
63.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Beijing (Pekin)
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.3 ¥440
$55.4 ฿1,793
10.69%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24 ¥253
$26.4 ฿854
33.48%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.9 ¥573
$85.1 ฿2,755
-6.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101 ¥725
$71.8 ฿2,323
40.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Beijing (Pekin)
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$892 ¥6,397
$434 ฿14K
105.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$451 ¥3,234
$235 ฿7,610
91.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,946 ¥14K
$821 ฿26.6K
136.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,092 ¥7,836
$498 ฿16.1K
119.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$14.7K ¥105.4K
$2,180 ฿70.6K
573.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,282 ¥45.1K
$1,543 ฿49.9K
307.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Beijing (Pekin)
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,425 ¥10.2K
$703 ฿22.8K
102.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.64
5
-27.20%

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

Last update for Beijing (Pekin): October 28, 2025

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

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