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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,175 in Changwon versus $950 in Chiang Mai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,792 in Changwon versus $1,430 in Chiang Mai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,409 in Changwon versus $1,909 in Chiang Mai.

Living in Changwon is roughly 24% more expensive than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Changwon 15% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.31 ₩9,808

$2.10 ฿69.3

248.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.35 ₩36.7K

$19.84 ฿656

37.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.35 ₩7,169

$5.79 ฿191

-7.60%

Cappuccino

$3.60 ₩4,831

$1.83 ฿60.4

96.72%

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

$1.81 ₩2,423

$0.78 ฿25.61

132.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.94 ₩1,256

$0.31 ฿10.37

203.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.91 ₩3,902

$2.34 ฿77.2

24.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.36 ₩5,847

$3.70 ฿122

17.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.31 ₩3,091

$2.03 ฿67.1

13.79%

White Bread (500g)

$3.13 ₩4,191

$1.60 ฿52.7

95.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.15 ₩4,228

$1.42 ฿46.75

121.83%

Eggs

$2.60 ₩3,489

$2.18 ฿71.9

19.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.06 ₩14.8K

$15.91 ฿526

-30.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.52 ₩14.1K

$3.07 ฿102

242.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.67 ₩33.1K

$9.87 ฿326

149.95%

Apples (1kg)

$11.29 ₩15.1K

$2.63 ฿86.8

329.28%

Banana (1kg)

$3.67 ₩4,926

$1.10 ฿36.19

233.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.83 ₩10.5K

$1.63 ฿53.8

380.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.89 ₩7,897

$1.53 ฿50.6

284.97%

Potato (1kg)

$5.89 ₩7,898

$1.24 ฿41.13

375.00%

Onion (1kg)

$3.27 ₩4,390

$1.13 ฿37.37

189.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.85 ₩3,818

$0.74 ฿24.38

285.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 ₩1,788

$0.50 ฿16.48

166.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.40 ₩4,560

$4.28 ฿141

-20.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.84 ₩25.3K

$17.97 ฿594

4.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 ₩3,141

$1.70 ฿56.1

37.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.50 ₩4,688

$2.90 ฿95.7

20.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.92 ₩3,920

$1.23 ฿40.76

137.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.76 ₩1,023

$0.53 ฿17.66

43.40%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.94 ₩22.7K

$2.40 ฿79.3

605.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 ₩1,771

$1.44 ฿47.55

-8.33%

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

$29.5K ₩39.6M

$21.2K ฿700.2K

39.38%

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

$33.5K ₩44.9M

$27.3K ฿902.1K

22.70%

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

$198 ₩265.3K

$64.9 ฿2,145

204.70%

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

$35.58 ₩47.7K

$13.35 ฿441

166.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.96 ₩36.2K

$20.83 ฿688

29.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.4 ₩70.3K

$40.42 ฿1,336

29.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$11.03 ₩14.8K

$6.71 ฿222

64.38%

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

$630 ₩844.5K

$787 ฿26.0K

-19.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.0K ₩29.5M

$15.1K ฿499.6K

45.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$106 ₩141.6K

$56.2 ฿1,858

87.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$65.4 ₩87.7K

$24.95 ฿824

162.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.0 ₩124.7K

$92.7 ฿3,063

0.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$126 ₩168.9K

$75.1 ฿2,482

67.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,661 ₩2.2M

$605 ฿20.0K

174.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.22

5.57

-24.24%

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

Last update for Changwon: September 6, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Changwon pays 174% 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: $27.00 in Changwon vs $20.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $484 vs $242 per month, with Chiang Mai cheaper across the board.

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

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

Changwon and Chiang Mai differ by about 24% in total monthly costs ($1,175 vs $950 including rent). Chiang Mai is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 174% higher in Changwon, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Supermarket bills run roughly 100% higher in Changwon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,175 per month in Changwon versus $950 in Chiang Mai – a 24% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $950 in Chiang Mai versus $1,175 in Changwon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Changwon. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Changwon 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 Chiang Mai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Changwon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.