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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Living in Chiang Mai costs roughly 19% less than in Changwon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$7.31 ₩9,808

-71.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$27.35 ₩36.7K

-27.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$5.35 ₩7,169

8.22%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$3.60 ₩4,831

-49.17%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$1.81 ₩2,423

-56.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$0.94 ₩1,256

-67.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$2.91 ₩3,902

-19.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$4.36 ₩5,847

-15.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$2.31 ₩3,091

-12.12%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$3.13 ₩4,191

-48.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$3.15 ₩4,228

-54.92%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$2.60 ₩3,489

-16.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$11.06 ₩14.8K

43.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$10.52 ₩14.1K

-70.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$24.67 ₩33.1K

-59.99%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$11.29 ₩15.1K

-76.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$3.67 ₩4,926

-70.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$7.83 ₩10.5K

-79.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$5.89 ₩7,897

-74.02%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$5.89 ₩7,898

-78.95%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$3.27 ₩4,390

-65.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

$2.85 ₩3,818

-74.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$1.33 ₩1,788

-62.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$3.40 ₩4,560

25.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

$18.84 ₩25.3K

-4.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

$2.34 ₩3,141

-27.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

$3.50 ₩4,688

-17.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$2.92 ₩3,920

-57.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

$0.76 ₩1,023

-30.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

$16.94 ₩22.7K

-85.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$1.32 ₩1,771

9.09%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

$29.5K ₩39.6M

-28.25%

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

$33.5K ₩44.9M

-18.50%

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$198 ₩265.3K

-67.18%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$35.58 ₩47.7K

-62.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$26.96 ₩36.2K

-22.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

$52.4 ₩70.3K

-22.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$11.03 ₩14.8K

-39.17%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$630 ₩844.5K

24.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

$22.0K ₩29.5M

-31.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$106 ₩141.6K

-46.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$65.4 ₩87.7K

-61.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$93.0 ₩124.7K

-0.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$126 ₩168.9K

-40.34%

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)

$605 ฿20.0K

$1,661 ₩2.2M

-63.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

4.22

31.99%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Changwon: September 6, 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: $20.00 in Chiang Mai vs $27.00 in Changwon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $242 vs $484 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

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

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

On paper, salaries run 174% lower in Changwon. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

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 $950 per month in Chiang Mai versus $1,175 in Changwon – 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, Chiang Mai and Changwon 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.