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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,058 in Chiayi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,497 in Chiayi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,937 in Chiayi, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 12% cheaper than Chiayi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Chiayi are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Chiayi 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.5

$4.83 NT$154

-56.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿655

$46.59 NT$1,483

-57.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$5.83 NT$186

-2.74%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.3

$3.53 NT$113

-48.73%

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

$0.77 ฿25.65

$0.85 NT$26.98

-9.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.53

$0.65 NT$20.81

-46.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.9

$2.85 NT$90.8

-22.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

$3.68 NT$117

2.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.4

$3.12 NT$99.2

-34.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.6

$2.03 NT$64.8

-25.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.69

$3.08 NT$97.9

-54.55%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

$2.69 NT$85.6

-15.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

$19.52 NT$621

-17.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.7

$9.56 NT$304

-69.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$21.35 NT$680

-55.88%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.4

$5.07 NT$161

-47.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.37

$3.43 NT$109

-68.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.0

$3.16 NT$101

-48.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.74

$4.57 NT$145

-68.05%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.65

$2.70 NT$85.8

-52.59%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.31

$2.26 NT$71.8

-53.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.94

$1.77 NT$56.4

-59.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.56

$1.12 NT$35.72

-52.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$3.84 NT$122

10.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿611

$4.63 NT$147

295.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$1.72 NT$54.9

-5.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.8

$2.29 NT$73.0

26.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.32

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

$12.51 NT$398

329.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.14

$2.61 NT$83.1

-55.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.30

$0.46 NT$14.64

26.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

$9.23 NT$294

-74.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.41

$1.02 NT$32.49

42.16%

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

$21.0K ฿701.4K

$33.8K NT$1.1M

-37.78%

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

$26.4K ฿882.0K

$24.5K NT$778.3K

8.07%

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

$63.7 ฿2,125

$65.8 NT$2,095

-3.30%

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

$12.89 ฿430

$17.73 NT$564

-27.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿685

$27.95 NT$890

-26.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,302

$31.98 NT$1,018

22.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿220

$9.85 NT$314

-33.20%

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

$784 ฿26.2K

$631 NT$20.1K

24.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

$16.6K NT$527.0K

-11.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,840

$63.4 NT$2,017

-13.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿826

$39.63 NT$1,262

-37.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,142

$83.9 NT$2,672

12.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,469

$104 NT$3,304

-28.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

$375 NT$11.9K

30.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,620

$251 NT$7,981

14.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

$3,152 NT$100.3K

-37.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

$1,883 NT$59.9K

-23.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.1K

$2,129 NT$67.8K

-71.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

2.4

132.08%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Chiayi: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $375 in Chiayi. 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 254% higher in Chiayi, 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $47.00 in Chiayi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $382 – 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

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

Chiayi costs about 13% 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 $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,586 in Chiayi. 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.

Kindergarten costs $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $631 in Chiayi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 59% more in Chiayi, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $932, than in Chiayi at $1,058. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiayi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $932 versus $1,058 in Chiayi. 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, Chiayi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.