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

🙂 Solo nomad: Chengdu is 17.1% cheaper than Chiang Mai without rent, and 20.7% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Chengdu is 11.2% cheaper than Chiang Mai without rent, and 18.7% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chengdu
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.86 ¥20.51
$2.02 ฿65.3
41.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.94 ¥172
$18.78 ฿608
27.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.83 ¥34.66
$7.67 ฿248
-37.03%
Cappuccino
$2.86 ¥20.52
$1.98 ฿64.2
44.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44 ¥3.15
$0.82 ฿26.64
-46.34%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28 ¥1.98
$0.33 ฿10.58
-15.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.13 ¥8.1
$2.12 ฿68.6
-46.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07 ¥14.83
$3.73 ฿121
-44.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chengdu
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.77 ¥12.66
$1.64 ฿53.2
7.93%
White Bread (500g)
$1.47 ¥10.53
$1.57 ฿50.9
-6.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.93 ¥6.69
$1.19 ฿38.62
-21.85%
Eggs
$1.94 ¥13.92
$1.98 ฿64.1
-2.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.48 ¥96.7
$15.99 ฿517
-15.70%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.68 ¥26.42
$3.12 ฿101
17.95%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.11 ¥79.7
$11.16 ฿361
-0.45%
Apples (1kg)
$1.86 ¥13.33
$2.76 ฿89.2
-32.61%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 ¥8.48
$1.22 ฿39.5
-3.28%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.44 ¥10.31
$1.71 ฿55.4
-15.79%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.02 ¥7.32
$1.55 ฿50.2
-34.19%
Potato (1kg)
$0.71 ¥5.08
$1.34 ฿43.21
-47.01%
Onion (1kg)
$0.74 ¥5.32
$1.21 ฿39.23
-38.84%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.6 ¥4.28
$0.72 ฿23.2
-16.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58 ¥4.15
$0.53 ฿17.05
9.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.24 ¥23.27
$4.72 ฿153
-31.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.92 ¥49.63
$18.39 ฿595
-62.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.93 ¥6.68
$1.79 ฿57.9
-48.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85 ¥13.3
$3.21 ฿104
-42.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Chengdu
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.44 ¥3.13
$0.94 ฿30.44
-53.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.31 ¥196
$18.9 ฿612
44.50%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.22 ¥8.74
$1.42 ฿46.08
-14.08%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.28 ¥2.02
$1.35 ฿43.53
-79.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.16 ¥29.86
$7.85 ฿254
-47.01%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.13 ¥8.11
$1.25 ฿40.4
-9.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.6K ¥133.6K
$21.2K ฿684.9K
-12.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.4K ¥118K
$21.8K ฿706.8K
-24.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chengdu
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$45.03 ¥323
$70.6 ฿2,285
-36.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.42 ¥81.9
$13.72 ฿444
-16.76%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.71 ¥84
$17.56 ฿568
-33.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chengdu
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.72 ¥170
$41.64 ฿1,347
-43.04%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.5 ¥82.5
$6.9 ฿223
66.67%
Cinema Ticket
$5.68 ¥40.78
$5.8 ฿188
-2.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chengdu
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$335 ¥2,400
$308 ฿9,963
8.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.3K ¥88.3K
$14.7K ฿475.8K
-16.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chengdu
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.28 ¥267
$55.4 ฿1,793
-32.71%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.32 ¥282
$26.4 ฿854
48.94%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$65.8 ¥472
$85.1 ฿2,755
-22.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$49.78 ¥357
$71.8 ฿2,323
-30.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chengdu
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$314 ¥2,254
$434 ฿14K
-27.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$182 ¥1,309
$235 ฿7,610
-22.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$624 ¥4,478
$821 ฿26.6K
-23.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$324 ¥2,321
$498 ฿16.1K
-35.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,049 ¥29K
$2,180 ฿70.6K
85.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,039 ¥14.6K
$1,543 ฿49.9K
32.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chengdu
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$940 ¥6,741
$703 ฿22.8K
33.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.21
5
-15.80%

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

Last update for Chengdu: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

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