Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Binzhou and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Binzhou: $775 a month against $938 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $2,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Binzhou
🇨🇳 China
$775
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$938
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Binzhou and in Chiang Mai

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Binzhou and in Chiang Mai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $775 in Binzhou versus $938 in Chiang Mai.

  • Binzhou $775
  • Chiang Mai $938

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,224 in Binzhou versus $1,426 in Chiang Mai.

  • Binzhou $1,224
  • Chiang Mai $1,426

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,672 in Binzhou versus $1,914 in Chiang Mai.

  • Binzhou $1,672
  • Chiang Mai $1,914

Living in Binzhou costs roughly 17% less than in Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities sit below the global median: Binzhou 43% lower, Chiang Mai 30% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Binzhou
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.02 ¥20.20
$2.26 ฿75.4
33.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.67 ¥118
$19.18 ฿641
-7.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.40 ¥29.44
$5.59 ฿187
-21.29%
Cappuccino
$2.69 ¥18.00
$1.72 ฿57.6
56.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51 ¥3.39
$0.64 ฿21.54
-20.31%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30 ¥2.00
$0.33 ฿11.18
-9.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.05 ¥7.03
$2.36 ฿78.7
-55.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55 ¥17.08
$3.90 ฿130
-34.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Binzhou
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.93 ¥12.91
$2.05 ฿68.6
-5.85%
White Bread (500g)
$1.36 ¥9.09
$1.40 ฿46.70
-2.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.04 ¥6.94
$1.28 ฿42.89
-18.75%
Eggs
$1.30 ¥8.68
$2.25 ฿75.3
-42.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.40 ¥110
$16.94 ฿566
-3.19%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.42 ¥29.55
$2.74 ฿91.6
61.31%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.53 ¥63.7
$9.36 ฿313
1.82%
Apples (1kg)
$1.47 ¥9.80
$2.40 ฿80.3
-38.75%
Banana (1kg)
$1.20 ¥8.00
$1.01 ฿33.92
18.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.69 ¥11.33
$1.61 ฿53.9
4.97%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.30 ¥8.70
$1.52 ฿50.7
-14.47%
Potato (1kg)
$0.68 ¥4.57
$1.28 ฿42.90
-46.88%
Onion (1kg)
$0.97 ¥6.47
$1.11 ฿37.22
-12.61%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.93 ¥6.24
$0.72 ฿24.09
29.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61 ¥4.05
$0.52 ฿17.54
17.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.76 ¥25.15
$4.33 ฿145
-13.16%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.72 ¥98.4
$17.73 ฿593
-16.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.03 ¥6.86
$1.63 ฿54.4
-36.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63 ¥10.91
$2.85 ฿95.3
-42.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Binzhou
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 ¥1.93
$0.85 ฿28.31
-65.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$17.01 ¥114
$53.9 ฿1,801
-68.44%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.04 ¥6.95
$1.17 ฿39.18
-11.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 ¥2.99
$0.57 ฿19.00
-21.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.82 ¥59.0
$2.37 ฿79.2
272.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 ¥8.52
$1.45 ฿48.32
-12.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.7K ¥131.7K
$20.5K ฿684.3K
-3.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.5K ¥110.4K
$26.5K ฿886.1K
-37.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Binzhou
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$67.8 ¥453
$62.3 ฿2,083
8.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.88 ¥46.00
$12.27 ฿410
-43.93%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.89 ¥52.7
$19.97 ฿668
-60.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Binzhou
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.59 ¥278
$37.91 ฿1,267
9.71%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.50 ¥97.0
$3.76 ฿126
285.64%
Cinema Ticket
$5.67 ¥37.90
$6.71 ฿224
-15.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Binzhou
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$368 ¥2,462
$797 ฿26.6K
-53.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.8K ¥118.7K
$14.8K ฿495.7K
19.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Binzhou
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.2 ¥349
$53.3 ฿1,780
-1.92%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.93 ¥320
$25.05 ฿837
91.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.8 ¥627
$91.6 ฿3,062
2.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.8 ¥600
$73.5 ฿2,455
22.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Binzhou
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$296 ¥1,980
$464 ฿15.5K
-36.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$184 ¥1,232
$305 ฿10.2K
-39.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$624 ¥4,173
$915 ฿30.6K
-31.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$378 ¥2,529
$552 ฿18.5K
-31.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,388 ¥22.7K
$1,912 ฿63.9K
77.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,677 ¥11.2K
$1,438 ฿48.1K
16.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Binzhou
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$567 ¥3,788
$595 ฿19.9K
-4.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.37
5.57
-39.50%

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

Last update for Binzhou: October 12, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Binzhou
$223
Chiang Mai
$238 6.8% $15
Accommodation & Living
Binzhou
$184
Chiang Mai
$305 65.3% $120
Clothing & Footwear
Binzhou
$128
Chiang Mai
$110 14.2% $18
Eating Out
Binzhou
$83
Chiang Mai
$79 5.1% $4.3
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Binzhou
$83
Chiang Mai
$95 14.5% $12
Sport & Entertainment
Binzhou
$53
Chiang Mai
$51 3% $1.6
Getting Around
Binzhou
$21
Chiang Mai
$61 186% $40

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $296 in Binzhou and $464 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chiang Mai pays 5% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $18.00 in Binzhou vs $19.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $223 vs $238 per month, with Binzhou cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇳 Binzhou
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
17:17 5:17 PM
16:17 4:17 PM
1 h behind Binzhou
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
3,748,500
127,240
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to CNY – Chinese Yuan Converter

Chinese Yuan exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 6.69 CNY (1 CNY = 0.15 USD). 1 EUR = 7.52 CNY (1 CNY = 0.133 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Binzhou Chiang Mai 2,770 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Binzhou
  • Chiang Mai

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Binzhou vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chiang Mai cheaper than Binzhou?
Binzhou is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, transport, and utilities. The 21% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Binzhou or Chiang Mai?
On paper, salaries run 5% lower in Chiang Mai. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Binzhou and Chiang Mai?
Rent for a central apartment: $296 in Binzhou versus $464 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $368 in Binzhou versus $797 in Chiang Mai. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Binzhou and in Chiang Mai?
Supermarket bills run roughly 7% higher in Chiang Mai. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Binzhou or in Chiang Mai?
At $775 in Binzhou versus $938 in Chiang Mai, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Binzhou but tight or insufficient in Chiang Mai. The gap between the two cities makes Binzhou the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Binzhou or Chiang Mai more family-friendly?
For families, Binzhou is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Chiang Mai, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Binzhou or Chiang Mai?
Safety-wise, Binzhou and Chiang Mai are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Binzhou gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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