Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Hai Phong Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Hai Phong

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $942 per month in Chiang Mai vs $680 in Hai Phong, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,427 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,158 in Hai Phong, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,912 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,635 in Hai Phong, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 38% more than Hai Phong, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chiang Mai and Hai Phong are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 30% lower, Hai Phong 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.4

$1.56 ₫40.6K

33.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.91 ฿664

$19.42 ₫504.4K

2.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.58 ฿186

$4.13 ₫107.2K

35.11%

Cappuccino

$1.74 ฿58.0

$1.83 ₫47.6K

-4.92%

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

$0.72 ฿24.01

$0.48 ₫12.5K

50.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.67

$0.30 ₫7,888

6.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.25 ฿75.1

$0.78 ₫20.3K

188.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.81 ฿127

$1.52 ₫39.4K

150.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.02 ฿67.4

$1.50 ₫38.9K

34.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.4

$0.50 ₫13.0K

214.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.58

$0.75 ₫19.6K

86.67%

Eggs

$2.15 ฿71.8

$1.49 ₫38.8K

44.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.63 ฿522

$10.30 ₫267.5K

51.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿98.3

$3.90 ₫101.2K

-24.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.49 ฿317

$10.11 ₫262.5K

-6.13%

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 ฿86.9

$3.16 ₫82.1K

-17.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 ฿36.08

$1.06 ₫27.6K

1.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.1

$1.37 ₫35.6K

16.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.45 ฿48.47

$1.14 ₫29.5K

27.19%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.60

$0.92 ₫23.8K

39.13%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 ฿37.07

$1.08 ₫28.0K

2.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 ฿24.23

$0.55 ₫14.3K

32.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.67

$0.55 ₫14.4K

-9.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿143

$1.22 ₫31.8K

250.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.67 ฿590

$12.38 ₫321.7K

42.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 ฿56.1

$0.75 ₫19.5K

124.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.80 ฿93.5

$1.62 ₫42.0K

72.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ฿28.87

$0.38 ₫9,932

128.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.2 ฿1,808

$5.85 ₫151.9K

826.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 ฿40.47

$0.76 ₫19.7K

59.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 ฿17.98

$0.56 ₫14.5K

-3.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

$1.96 ₫51.0K

21.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 ฿48.84

$0.83 ₫21.7K

75.90%

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

$21.0K ฿701.2K

$30.9K ₫801.5M

-31.90%

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

$26.7K ฿890.8K

$31.1K ₫807.7M

-14.16%

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

$62.1 ฿2,071

$45.28 ₫1.2M

37.08%

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

$12.93 ฿431

$4.87 ₫126.4K

165.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.61 ฿688

$8.84 ₫229.7K

133.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.21 ฿1,308

$22.71 ₫589.8K

72.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿126

$7.85 ₫203.9K

-51.97%

Cinema Ticket

$6.52 ฿217

$4.21 ₫109.2K

54.87%

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

$803 ฿26.8K

$155 ₫4.0M

417.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿490.4K

$4,666 ₫121.2M

214.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.9 ฿1,864

$45.45 ₫1.2M

22.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.51 ฿851

$20.86 ₫541.8K

22.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.1 ฿3,039

$83.3 ₫2.2M

9.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.3 ฿2,446

$76.8 ₫2.0M

-4.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.1K

$243 ₫6.3M

98.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,617

$242 ₫6.3M

19.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$885 ฿29.5K

$1,012 ₫26.3M

-12.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$523 ฿17.5K

$619 ₫16.1M

-15.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,989 ฿66.4K

$1,351 ₫35.1M

47.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,440 ฿48.1K

$958 ₫24.9M

50.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$603 ฿20.1K

$496 ₫12.9M

21.49%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-20.43%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 21, 2026

Last update for Hai Phong: September 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $243 in Hai Phong. 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 21% higher in Chiang Mai, 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 $19.00 in Hai Phong. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $238 vs $189 – making Hai Phong 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 Hai Phong: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 38% more than Hai Phong, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,414 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,021 in Hai Phong. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $803 per month in Chiang Mai and $155 in Hai Phong. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 26% 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 Hai Phong, where all-in costs run around $680, than in Chiang Mai at $942. In Hai Phong it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Hai Phong costs $680 versus $942 in Chiang Mai. 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 Hai Phong. 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.