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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $709 in Changshu versus $866 in Chiang Mai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,130 in Changshu versus $1,351 in Chiang Mai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,551 in Changshu versus $1,835 in Chiang Mai.

Living in Changshu costs roughly 18% less than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Changshu 47% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.81 ¥19.05

$1.94 ฿63.5

44.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.75 ¥147

$18.64 ฿609

16.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.91 ¥33.29

$7.82 ฿255

-37.21%

Cappuccino

$3.07 ¥20.77

$1.95 ฿63.8

57.44%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.44 ¥2.96

$0.85 ฿27.77

-48.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 ¥1.81

$0.35 ฿11.58

-22.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.87 ¥5.90

$2.13 ฿69.6

-59.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 ¥13.86

$3.73 ฿122

-45.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 ¥12.77

$1.71 ฿56.0

9.94%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 ¥10.53

$1.63 ฿53.2

-4.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.95 ¥6.40

$1.14 ฿37.15

-16.67%

Eggs

$1.55 ¥10.47

$1.93 ฿63.1

-19.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.87 ¥87.2

$16.21 ฿530

-20.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.22 ¥21.79

$3.12 ฿102

3.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.32 ¥69.9

$10.90 ฿356

-5.32%

Apples (1kg)

$1.80 ¥12.16

$2.75 ฿90.0

-34.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ¥8.24

$1.21 ฿39.52

0.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.49 ¥10.06

$1.62 ฿53.0

-8.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.10 ¥7.47

$1.59 ฿51.8

-30.82%

Potato (1kg)

$0.74 ¥5.00

$1.40 ฿45.70

-47.14%

Onion (1kg)

$0.96 ¥6.50

$1.17 ฿38.17

-17.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.56 ¥3.80

$0.66 ฿21.60

-15.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ¥3.76

$0.53 ฿17.22

3.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.15 ¥21.33

$4.69 ฿153

-32.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.59 ¥71.8

$18.66 ฿609

-43.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 ¥5.32

$1.80 ฿58.8

-56.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 ¥10.66

$3.23 ฿106

-51.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 ¥1.98

$0.90 ฿29.26

-67.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.75 ¥113

$19.21 ฿628

-12.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.43 ¥9.69

$1.41 ฿45.91

1.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 ¥2.21

$1.29 ฿42.12

-74.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.85 ¥46.42

$7.84 ฿256

-12.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ¥7.62

$1.27 ฿41.58

-11.81%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$19.6K ¥132.4K

$21.3K ฿694.9K

-8.10%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$17.3K ¥117.3K

$22.2K ฿725.4K

-22.02%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$44.27 ¥300

$69.1 ฿2,256

-35.91%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.92 ¥67.2

$14.08 ฿460

-29.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.49 ¥77.8

$18.00 ฿588

-36.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.00 ¥278

$41.06 ฿1,341

-0.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.92 ¥94.3

$6.96 ฿227

100.00%

Cinema Ticket

$6.04 ¥40.91

$5.92 ฿193

2.03%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$335 ¥2,268

$299 ฿9,766

12.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.1K ¥116.1K

$15.0K ฿488.3K

14.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$43.70 ¥296

$54.7 ฿1,787

-20.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.70 ¥208

$26.77 ฿874

14.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.3 ¥490

$85.0 ฿2,776

-14.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ¥489

$70.6 ฿2,306

2.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$274 ¥1,854

$428 ฿14.0K

-36.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$196 ¥1,327

$237 ฿7,752

-17.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$602 ¥4,079

$801 ฿26.2K

-24.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$366 ¥2,478

$515 ฿16.8K

-29.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,045 ¥20.6K

$1,975 ฿64.5K

54.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,017 ¥13.7K

$1,475 ฿48.2K

36.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.89

-22.20%

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

Last update for Changshu: May 30, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $274 in Changshu and $428 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $22.00 in Changshu vs $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries flip the comparison at $199 vs $246, with Changshu cheaper for home cooking.

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

Changshu vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Changshu is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 22% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,064 in Changshu and $1,300 in Chiang Mai to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $274 in Changshu versus $428 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Changshu – a meal for two runs $22.00 versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $709 per month in Changshu versus $866 in Chiang Mai – a 22% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Changshu gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

For families, Changshu 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.

Safety-wise, Changshu 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.

Expats usually find Changshu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 22% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.