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 2.2% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 22.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Beijing (Pekin) is 6.2% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 40.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Beijing (Pekin)
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.09 ¥27.96
$2.01 ฿64.5
103.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.09 ¥192
$18.23 ฿584
54.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.36 ¥36.62
$7.65 ฿245
-29.93%
Cappuccino
$3.05 ¥20.81
$1.92 ฿61.5
58.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 ¥3.14
$0.84 ฿26.97
-45.24%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30 ¥2.05
$0.36 ฿11.42
-16.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.13 ¥7.70
$2.19 ฿70.2
-48.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 ¥14.46
$3.79 ฿121
-44.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Beijing (Pekin)
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 ¥11.71
$1.64 ฿52.5
4.27%
White Bread (500g)
$1.65 ¥11.27
$1.62 ฿52.0
1.85%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.12 ¥7.64
$1.15 ฿36.98
-2.61%
Eggs
$1.67 ¥11.39
$1.94 ฿62.2
-13.92%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.67 ¥107
$15.94 ฿511
-1.69%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.22 ¥21.99
$3.10 ฿99.5
3.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.64 ¥65.9
$11.07 ฿355
-12.92%
Apples (1kg)
$2.10 ¥14.35
$2.71 ฿86.8
-22.51%
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 ¥10.89
$1.18 ฿37.80
34.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.80 ¥12.27
$1.71 ฿54.7
5.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.34 ¥9.13
$1.61 ฿51.5
-16.77%
Potato (1kg)
$0.85 ¥5.79
$1.39 ฿44.66
-38.85%
Onion (1kg)
$0.90 ¥6.17
$1.15 ฿36.81
-21.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ¥4.90
$0.71 ฿22.83
1.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57 ¥3.87
$0.55 ฿17.65
3.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.58 ¥24.42
$4.57 ฿146
-21.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.60 ¥72.4
$18.87 ฿605
-43.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 ¥5.82
$1.82 ฿58.4
-53.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 ¥11.88
$3.21 ฿103
-45.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Beijing (Pekin)
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.59 ¥4.01
$0.88 ฿28.24
-32.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$31.30 ¥214
$18.89 ฿606
65.70%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.80 ¥12.26
$1.41 ฿45.30
27.66%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 ¥2.40
$1.30 ฿41.71
-73.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.34 ¥70.6
$8.20 ฿263
26.10%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 ¥7.78
$1.23 ฿39.29
-7.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.8K ¥128.4K
$21.2K ฿678.9K
-11.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.8K ¥107.9K
$22.3K ฿715.3K
-29.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Beijing (Pekin)
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$51.2 ¥350
$69.9 ฿2,240
-26.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.00 ¥61.5
$14.07 ฿451
-36.03%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.44 ¥84.9
$17.70 ฿567
-29.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Beijing (Pekin)
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.97 ¥341
$41.41 ฿1,328
20.67%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.24 ¥125
$6.69 ฿215
172.65%
Cinema Ticket
$8.51 ¥58.1
$5.74 ฿184
48.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Beijing (Pekin)
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$683 ¥4,665
$299 ฿9,593
128.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.8K ¥162.9K
$15.0K ฿481.2K
58.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Beijing (Pekin)
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.5 ¥420
$54.8 ฿1,758
12.11%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.26 ¥234
$26.35 ฿845
30.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.7 ¥531
$84.7 ฿2,714
-8.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 ¥695
$69.7 ฿2,236
45.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Beijing (Pekin)
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$914 ¥6,242
$427 ฿13.7K
114.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$458 ¥3,129
$241 ฿7,718
90.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,918 ¥13.1K
$811 ฿26.0K
136.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,085 ¥7,409
$498 ฿16.0K
117.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$12.1K ¥82.7K
$2,022 ฿64.8K
498.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,141 ¥41.9K
$1,524 ฿48.9K
302.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Beijing (Pekin)
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,581 ¥10.8K
$639 ฿20.5K
147.39%
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): April 13, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 13, 2026

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

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