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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Beijing (Pekin) is 3.2% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 25% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Beijing (Pekin) is 7.8% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 39.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Beijing (Pekin)
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.23 ยฅ29.55
$1.97 เธฟ62.0
114.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.60 ยฅ193
$18.68 เธฟ587
47.75%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.37 ยฅ37.49
$7.92 เธฟ249
-32.20%
Cappuccino
$3.16 ยฅ22.08
$2.02 เธฟ63.7
56.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 ยฅ3.22
$0.84 เธฟ26.45
-45.24%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28 ยฅ1.95
$0.35 เธฟ11.07
-20.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.08 ยฅ7.53
$2.22 เธฟ69.9
-51.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 ยฅ14.39
$3.59 เธฟ113
-42.62%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Beijing (Pekin)
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 ยฅ11.97
$1.67 เธฟ52.4
2.40%
White Bread (500g)
$1.65 ยฅ11.50
$1.62 เธฟ51.1
1.85%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.08 ยฅ7.53
$1.20 เธฟ37.83
-10.00%
Eggs
$1.71 ยฅ11.94
$1.93 เธฟ60.8
-11.40%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.00 ยฅ112
$16.00 เธฟ503
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.32 ยฅ23.15
$3.16 เธฟ99.2
5.06%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.63 ยฅ67.2
$10.93 เธฟ344
-11.89%
Apples (1kg)
$2.17 ยฅ15.13
$2.67 เธฟ83.8
-18.73%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 ยฅ11.40
$1.18 เธฟ36.99
38.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.73 ยฅ12.08
$1.64 เธฟ51.5
5.49%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.32 ยฅ9.24
$1.59 เธฟ49.83
-16.98%
Potato (1kg)
$0.80 ยฅ5.57
$1.32 เธฟ41.64
-39.39%
Onion (1kg)
$0.95 ยฅ6.63
$1.19 เธฟ37.49
-20.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.67 ยฅ4.68
$0.71 เธฟ22.20
-5.63%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ยฅ3.90
$0.56 เธฟ17.75
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.38 ยฅ23.62
$4.64 เธฟ146
-27.16%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.91 ยฅ69.2
$18.96 เธฟ596
-47.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.87 ยฅ6.05
$1.77 เธฟ55.7
-50.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 ยฅ12.81
$3.20 เธฟ101
-42.81%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Beijing (Pekin)
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.58 ยฅ4.08
$0.90 เธฟ28.32
-35.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$31.01 ยฅ216
$19.24 เธฟ605
61.17%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.78 ยฅ12.39
$1.36 เธฟ42.78
30.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 ยฅ2.47
$1.35 เธฟ42.37
-74.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.34 ยฅ72.1
$8.15 เธฟ256
26.87%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.12 ยฅ7.82
$1.22 เธฟ38.43
-8.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K ยฅ129.3K
$21.4K เธฟ671.8K
-13.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.4K ยฅ107.2K
$21.7K เธฟ683.8K
-29.38%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Beijing (Pekin)
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$52.6 ยฅ367
$70.3 เธฟ2,210
-25.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.07 ยฅ63.3
$13.91 เธฟ437
-34.80%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.73 ยฅ88.8
$18.00 เธฟ566
-29.28%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Beijing (Pekin)
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.84 ยฅ348
$41.78 เธฟ1,314
19.29%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.00 ยฅ126
$6.80 เธฟ214
164.71%
Cinema Ticket
$8.49 ยฅ59.3
$5.72 เธฟ180
48.43%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Beijing (Pekin)
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$659 ยฅ4,602
$308 เธฟ9,693
113.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.2K ยฅ168.9K
$14.8K เธฟ465.7K
63.38%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Beijing (Pekin)
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.3 ยฅ442
$55.9 เธฟ1,756
13.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.05 ยฅ245
$26.71 เธฟ840
31.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.8 ยฅ536
$84.5 เธฟ2,658
-9.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101 ยฅ703
$70.8 เธฟ2,227
42.09%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Beijing (Pekin)
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$897 ยฅ6,261
$431 เธฟ13.5K
108.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$464 ยฅ3,237
$237 เธฟ7,439
96.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,935 ยฅ13.5K
$811 เธฟ25.5K
138.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,096 ยฅ7,652
$501 เธฟ15.7K
118.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$13.0K ยฅ90.5K
$2,202 เธฟ69.2K
488.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,236 ยฅ43.5K
$1,600 เธฟ50.3K
289.72%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Beijing (Pekin)
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,499 ยฅ10.5K
$684 เธฟ21.5K
119.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.64
5
-27.20%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Beijing (Pekin): January 10, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: January 13, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
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