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

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Chengdu is 14.3% cheaper than Chiang Mai without rent, and 21.2% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Chengdu is 11.4% cheaper than Chiang Mai without rent, and 16.9% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chengdu
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.85 ยฅ19.95
$1.97 เธฟ62.0
44.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.68 ยฅ166
$18.68 เธฟ587
26.77%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.78 ยฅ33.44
$7.92 เธฟ249
-39.65%
Cappuccino
$2.86 ยฅ20.00
$2.02 เธฟ63.6
41.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43 ยฅ3.03
$0.84 เธฟ26.44
-48.81%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30 ยฅ2.11
$0.35 เธฟ11.06
-14.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.14 ยฅ7.96
$2.22 เธฟ69.9
-48.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 ยฅ15.01
$3.59 เธฟ113
-40.11%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chengdu
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.76 ยฅ12.30
$1.67 เธฟ52.3
5.39%
White Bread (500g)
$1.45 ยฅ10.17
$1.62 เธฟ51.1
-10.49%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.90 ยฅ6.29
$1.20 เธฟ37.82
-25.00%
Eggs
$1.87 ยฅ13.10
$1.93 เธฟ60.8
-3.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.71 ยฅ95.8
$16.00 เธฟ503
-14.31%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.65 ยฅ25.52
$3.16 เธฟ99.2
15.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.15 ยฅ77.9
$10.93 เธฟ343
2.01%
Apples (1kg)
$1.86 ยฅ12.99
$2.67 เธฟ83.8
-30.34%
Banana (1kg)
$1.23 ยฅ8.56
$1.18 เธฟ36.98
4.24%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.52 ยฅ10.64
$1.64 เธฟ51.5
-7.32%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.02 ยฅ7.16
$1.59 เธฟ49.82
-35.85%
Potato (1kg)
$0.67 ยฅ4.66
$1.32 เธฟ41.63
-49.24%
Onion (1kg)
$0.71 ยฅ4.95
$1.19 เธฟ37.48
-40.34%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.61 ยฅ4.25
$0.71 เธฟ22.19
-14.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60 ยฅ4.20
$0.56 เธฟ17.74
7.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.43 ยฅ23.99
$4.64 เธฟ146
-26.08%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.29 ยฅ51.0
$18.96 เธฟ596
-61.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.93 ยฅ6.50
$1.77 เธฟ55.6
-47.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81 ยฅ12.67
$3.20 เธฟ101
-43.44%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chengdu
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.40 ยฅ2.79
$0.90 เธฟ28.31
-55.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.33 ยฅ191
$19.24 เธฟ605
42.05%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.22 ยฅ8.56
$1.36 เธฟ42.77
-10.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.28 ยฅ1.97
$1.35 เธฟ42.35
-79.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.29 ยฅ29.97
$8.15 เธฟ256
-47.36%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.12 ยฅ7.86
$1.22 เธฟ38.42
-8.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.4K ยฅ128.9K
$21.4K เธฟ671.6K
-13.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.6K ยฅ115.7K
$21.7K เธฟ683.6K
-23.90%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chengdu
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$44.46 ยฅ311
$70.3 เธฟ2,210
-36.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.65 ยฅ81.5
$13.91 เธฟ437
-16.25%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.49 ยฅ80.3
$18.00 เธฟ566
-36.17%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chengdu
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$24.50 ยฅ171
$41.78 เธฟ1,313
-41.36%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.27 ยฅ78.8
$6.80 เธฟ214
65.74%
Cinema Ticket
$5.58 ยฅ39.02
$5.72 เธฟ180
-2.45%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chengdu
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$339 ยฅ2,367
$308 เธฟ9,690
9.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.3K ยฅ86.2K
$14.8K เธฟ465.6K
-16.79%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chengdu
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.09 ยฅ259
$55.9 เธฟ1,755
-33.59%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.29 ยฅ268
$26.71 เธฟ839
43.35%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$65.6 ยฅ458
$84.5 เธฟ2,657
-22.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$50.5 ยฅ353
$70.8 เธฟ2,226
-28.70%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chengdu
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$316 ยฅ2,210
$431 เธฟ13.5K
-26.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$179 ยฅ1,253
$237 เธฟ7,437
-24.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$611 ยฅ4,269
$811 เธฟ25.5K
-24.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$334 ยฅ2,332
$501 เธฟ15.7K
-33.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,998 ยฅ27.9K
$2,202 เธฟ69.2K
81.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,015 ยฅ14.1K
$1,600 เธฟ50.3K
25.93%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chengdu
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,110 ยฅ7,756
$684 เธฟ21.5K
62.10%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.21
5
-15.80%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chengdu: January 12, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: January 13, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
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