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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,274 per month in Cheonan vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,957 per month in Cheonan vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,640 per month in Cheonan vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Cheonan costs about 47% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Cheonan and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Cheonan 5% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.71 ₩8,745

$1.94 ฿63.6

194.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.99 ₩33.7K

$18.64 ฿609

17.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.84 ₩7,420

$7.82 ฿256

-38.11%

Cappuccino

$2.14 ₩3,283

$1.95 ฿63.9

9.74%

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

$1.20 ₩1,845

$0.85 ฿27.80

41.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ₩735

$0.35 ฿11.60

37.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.55 ₩3,900

$2.13 ฿69.7

19.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ₩5,696

$3.73 ฿122

-0.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.50 ₩2,295

$1.71 ฿56.0

-12.28%

White Bread (500g)

$3.52 ₩5,387

$1.63 ฿53.3

115.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.03 ₩4,644

$1.14 ฿37.18

165.79%

Eggs

$1.73 ₩2,647

$1.93 ฿63.2

-10.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.60 ₩16.2K

$16.21 ฿530

-34.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.33 ₩12.8K

$3.12 ฿102

166.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.97 ₩18.3K

$10.90 ฿356

9.82%

Apples (1kg)

$7.33 ₩11.2K

$2.75 ฿90.1

166.55%

Banana (1kg)

$2.50 ₩3,825

$1.21 ฿39.56

106.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.57 ₩8,541

$1.62 ฿53.0

243.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.31 ₩8,144

$1.59 ฿51.9

233.96%

Potato (1kg)

$4.99 ₩7,651

$1.40 ฿45.75

256.43%

Onion (1kg)

$2.95 ₩4,527

$1.17 ฿38.20

152.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 ₩1,411

$0.66 ฿21.62

39.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 ₩1,619

$0.53 ฿17.24

100.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.29 ₩5,034

$4.69 ฿153

-29.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.68 ₩25.6K

$18.66 ฿610

-10.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 ₩2,709

$1.80 ฿58.8

-1.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 ₩2,296

$3.23 ฿106

-53.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.12 ₩1,712

$0.90 ฿29.28

24.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.96 ₩4,528

$1.41 ฿45.96

109.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.84 ₩1,289

$1.29 ฿42.16

-34.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.77 ₩25.7K

$7.84 ฿256

113.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₩1,780

$1.27 ฿41.62

-8.66%

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

$27.8K ₩42.5M

$21.3K ฿695.5K

30.52%

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

$25.3K ₩38.7M

$22.2K ฿726.1K

13.79%

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

$141 ₩215.5K

$69.1 ฿2,258

103.62%

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

$50.6 ₩77.5K

$14.08 ฿460

259.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.97 ₩15.3K

$18.00 ฿588

-44.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.28 ₩74.0K

$41.06 ฿1,342

17.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$7.57 ₩11.6K

$5.92 ฿193

27.87%

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

$492 ₩754.0K

$299 ฿9,775

64.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.1K ₩21.6M

$15.0K ฿488.8K

-5.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$102 ₩156.0K

$54.7 ฿1,788

86.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.01 ₩73.6K

$26.77 ฿875

79.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.2 ₩113.7K

$85.0 ฿2,778

-12.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 ₩168.5K

$70.6 ฿2,308

55.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$453 ₩693.8K

$428 ฿14.0K

5.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$378 ₩578.7K

$237 ฿7,759

59.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,072 ₩1.6M

$801 ฿26.2K

33.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$774 ₩1.2M

$515 ฿16.9K

50.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,773 ₩15.0M

$1,975 ฿64.5K

394.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,779 ₩8.9M

$1,475 ฿48.2K

291.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,579 ₩2.4M

$617 ฿20.2K

155.69%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.22

-15.60%

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

Last update for Cheonan: May 31, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $453 in Cheonan versus $428 in Chiang Mai. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 156% higher in Cheonan, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $22.00 in Cheonan versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $362 vs $246 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

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

Cheonan costs about 47% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,910 per month in Cheonan and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,274 in Cheonan and $866 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $492 per month in Cheonan and $299 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Cheonan at $1,274. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cheonan it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $1,274 in Cheonan. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Cheonan makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.