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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $869 in Chiang Mai versus $1,281 in Cheongju.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,362 in Chiang Mai versus $1,902 in Cheongju.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,855 in Chiang Mai versus $2,523 in Cheongju.

Living in Chiang Mai costs roughly 32% less than in Cheongju, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 35% lower, Cheongju 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$7.13 ₩10.8K

-72.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$36.55 ₩55.5K

-48.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$4.75 ₩7,217

63.16%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$4.01 ₩6,086

-52.12%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$1.86 ₩2,825

-57.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$1.34 ₩2,038

-73.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$3.65 ₩5,547

-39.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$5.97 ₩9,060

-38.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$2.01 ₩3,059

-17.91%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$3.61 ₩5,475

-54.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$1.86 ₩2,828

-36.02%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$2.18 ₩3,305

-8.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$10.61 ₩16.1K

50.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$8.26 ₩12.5K

-63.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$14.64 ₩22.2K

-25.82%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$2.89 ₩4,388

-4.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$2.99 ₩4,540

-60.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$7.49 ₩11.4K

-78.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$5.12 ₩7,769

-70.31%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$5.03 ₩7,635

-72.56%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$2.90 ₩4,402

-58.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$2.10 ₩3,186

-66.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$0.43 ₩651

30.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$3.36 ₩5,098

36.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

$12.89 ₩19.6K

28.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

$1.76 ₩2,672

3.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

$2.26 ₩3,429

41.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$1.20 ₩1,826

-26.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

$74.6 ₩113.3K

-74.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$2.63 ₩3,998

-48.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$0.84 ₩1,282

59.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$16.78 ₩25.5K

-53.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$1.16 ₩1,754

6.03%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$28.0K ₩42.6M

-22.86%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$24.7K ₩37.5M

-8.66%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$191 ₩289.8K

-63.04%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$24.60 ₩37.4K

-44.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$14.88 ₩22.6K

17.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$61.3 ₩93.0K

-32.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$34.47 ₩52.3K

-79.81%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$7.40 ₩11.2K

-22.03%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$480 ₩729.3K

-36.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$14.3K ₩21.7M

2.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$36.54 ₩55.5K

52.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$47.44 ₩72.0K

-44.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$87.2 ₩132.4K

-1.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$109 ₩165.6K

-33.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$304 ₩461.7K

41.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$240 ₩364.3K

-0.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$417 ₩633.3K

95.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$295 ₩447.3K

73.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

$9,450 ₩14.4M

-79.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

$5,234 ₩7.9M

-71.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

$2,277 ₩3.5M

-72.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.22

18.48%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Last update for Cheongju: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $430 in Chiang Mai and $304 in Cheongju. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cheongju pays 268% 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: $19.00 in Chiang Mai vs $37.00 in Cheongju for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $241 vs $351 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 Cheongju: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai wins on cost – living expenses run 47% lower than in Cheongju. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Chiang Mai the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Cheongju earns 268% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $430 in Chiang Mai versus $304 in Cheongju. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $869 per month in Chiang Mai versus $1,281 in Cheongju – a 47% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Chiang Mai runs roughly 299% less than in Cheongju. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $869 in Chiang Mai versus $1,281 in Cheongju, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Cheongju. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Chiang Mai delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $869 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Chiang Mai hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Cheongju 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 47% less than in Cheongju. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.