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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $634 in Anqing, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $993 in Anqing, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,351 in Anqing, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 49% more than Anqing, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chiang Mai and Anqing are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Anqing 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.6

$2.58 ¥17.33

-19.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿646

$19.85 ¥133

-1.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿186

$6.12 ¥41.07

-7.68%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.4

$2.19 ¥14.71

-17.35%

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

$0.71 ฿23.45

$0.46 ¥3.09

54.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.38

$0.21 ¥1.41

52.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿73.6

$1.06 ¥7.14

111.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿119

$1.31 ¥8.82

177.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿64.4

$1.02 ¥6.81

92.16%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.39

$1.45 ¥9.76

3.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.93

$0.93 ¥6.27

44.09%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿74.5

$0.92 ¥6.18

145.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿535

$13.44 ¥90.2

20.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.1

$3.54 ¥23.73

-16.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿327

$11.51 ¥77.2

-13.64%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿84.6

$2.27 ¥15.26

13.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿34.73

$1.26 ¥8.48

-15.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.0

$1.39 ¥9.31

15.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.97

$1.13 ¥7.59

34.51%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿41.77

$0.81 ¥5.43

56.79%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.06

$0.76 ¥5.07

40.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.68

$0.37 ¥2.49

94.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.72

$0.38 ¥2.57

34.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿138

$6.64 ¥44.56

-36.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿587

$11.90 ¥79.9

50.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿55.7

$0.73 ¥4.88

131.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿93.3

$1.51 ¥10.10

88.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.43

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,771

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.59

$0.94 ¥6.32

30.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿18.96

$0.24 ¥1.60

141.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿79.7

$2.93 ¥19.69

-17.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.43

$1.17 ¥7.83

20.51%

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

$21.4K ฿705.1K

$19.4K ¥130.4K

10.37%

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

$27.3K ฿898.7K

$16.8K ¥112.5K

63.06%

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

$63.7 ฿2,093

$58.4 ¥392

9.10%

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

$12.85 ฿423

$8.21 ¥55.1

56.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿665

$8.82 ¥59.2

129.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,274

$75.1 ¥504

-48.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

$15.04 ¥101

-73.60%

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿222

$5.22 ¥35.00

29.12%

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

$778 ฿25.6K

$219 ¥1,472

254.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿480.4K

$9,522 ¥63.9K

53.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,785

$25.25 ¥169

115.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿837

$20.92 ¥140

21.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,102

$79.3 ¥532

18.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,415

$33.44 ¥224

119.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.1K

$186 ¥1,248

163.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,512

$135 ¥903

114.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.4K

$352 ¥2,364

153.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.0K

$234 ¥1,569

121.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.3K

$13.0K ¥87.5K

-85.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿48.6K

$6,493 ¥43.6K

-77.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿19.8K

$795 ¥5,335

-24.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

85.67%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Last update for Anqing: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $186 in Anqing. 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 32% higher in Anqing, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $20.00 in Anqing. Groceries tell a different story – $240 in Chiang Mai vs $195 in Anqing – so Anqing wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $947 in Chiang Mai, $634 in Anqing – roughly 49% apart. Chiang Mai costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,421 per month in Chiang Mai and $952 in Anqing. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $20.00 in Anqing. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 23% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Anqing, where all-in costs run around $634, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Anqing it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $634 in Anqing to $947 in Chiang Mai. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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