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

😐 Solo nomad: Busan is 79.2% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 69% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Busan is 85% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 69.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Busan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.2 ₩9,768
$2.02 ฿65.3
256.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.37 ₩49.3K
$18.78 ฿608
93.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.2 ₩8,418
$7.67 ฿248
-19.17%
Cappuccino
$4.16 ₩5,643
$1.98 ฿64.2
110.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81 ₩2,461
$0.82 ฿26.64
120.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39 ₩1,885
$0.33 ฿10.58
321.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.6 ₩4,879
$2.12 ฿68.6
69.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.77 ₩7,828
$3.73 ฿121
54.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Busan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.23 ₩3,027
$1.64 ฿53.2
35.98%
White Bread (500g)
$3.56 ₩4,830
$1.57 ฿50.9
126.75%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.97 ₩4,027
$1.19 ฿38.62
149.58%
Eggs
$2.87 ₩3,898
$1.98 ฿64.1
44.95%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.4 ₩14.1K
$15.99 ฿517
-34.96%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.29 ₩11.2K
$3.12 ฿101
165.71%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$28.01 ₩38K
$11.16 ฿361
150.99%
Apples (1kg)
$8.24 ₩11.2K
$2.76 ฿89.2
198.55%
Banana (1kg)
$3.14 ₩4,267
$1.22 ฿39.5
157.38%
Oranges (1kg)
$7.57 ₩10.3K
$1.71 ฿55.4
342.69%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.31 ₩7,204
$1.55 ฿50.2
242.58%
Potato (1kg)
$5 ₩6,786
$1.34 ฿43.21
273.13%
Onion (1kg)
$2.99 ₩4,061
$1.21 ฿39.23
147.11%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.09 ₩2,837
$0.72 ฿23.2
190.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.17 ₩1,584
$0.53 ฿17.05
120.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.34 ₩4,535
$4.72 ฿153
-29.24%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.92 ₩18.9K
$18.39 ฿595
-24.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 ₩2,377
$1.79 ฿57.9
-2.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46 ₩4,695
$3.21 ฿104
7.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Busan
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.12 ₩1,520
$0.94 ฿30.44
19.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$43.34 ₩58.8K
$18.9 ฿612
129.31%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.58 ₩4,854
$1.42 ฿46.08
152.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.85 ₩1,160
$1.35 ฿43.53
-37.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.71 ₩22.7K
$7.85 ฿254
112.87%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.22 ₩1,658
$1.25 ฿40.4
-2.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K ₩38.3M
$21.2K ฿684.9K
33.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.9K ₩33.7M
$21.8K ฿706.8K
13.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Busan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$189 ₩256K
$70.6 ฿2,285
167.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$50.5 ₩68.5K
$13.72 ฿444
268.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.23 ₩36.9K
$17.56 ฿568
55.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Busan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.7 ₩71.4K
$41.64 ฿1,347
26.44%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.41 ₩18.2K
$6.9 ฿223
94.35%
Cinema Ticket
$11.46 ₩15.6K
$5.8 ฿188
97.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Busan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$485 ₩658.4K
$308 ฿9,963
57.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.3K ₩19.4M
$14.7K ฿475.8K
-2.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Busan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104 ₩141K
$55.4 ฿1,793
87.60%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$65.1 ₩88.3K
$26.4 ฿854
146.48%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.6 ₩120.3K
$85.1 ฿2,755
4.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 ₩161.9K
$71.8 ฿2,323
66.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Busan
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$500 ₩678.1K
$434 ฿14K
15.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$319 ₩432.3K
$235 ฿7,610
35.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$997 ₩1.4M
$821 ฿26.6K
21.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$665 ₩901.8K
$498 ฿16.1K
33.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,901 ₩12.1M
$2,180 ฿70.6K
308.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,158 ₩9.7M
$1,543 ฿49.9K
363.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Busan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,514 ₩3.4M
$703 ฿22.8K
257.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.22
5
-15.60%

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

Last update for Busan: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

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