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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $649 in Handan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,023 in Handan, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,397 in Handan, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 44% more than Handan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Handan are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Handan 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.5

$1.90 ¥12.74

9.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿655

$18.11 ¥121

8.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$4.40 ¥29.45

28.86%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.3

$2.56 ¥17.15

-29.30%

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

$0.77 ฿25.65

$0.43 ¥2.86

79.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.53

$0.23 ¥1.55

52.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.9

$0.75 ¥5.04

194.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

$1.47 ¥9.83

157.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.4

$1.58 ¥10.56

29.75%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.6

$0.71 ¥4.78

112.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.69

$0.77 ¥5.17

81.82%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

$0.97 ¥6.50

132.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

$11.72 ¥78.5

38.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.7

$3.01 ¥20.15

-3.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$11.31 ¥75.7

-16.71%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.4

$1.51 ¥10.12

77.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.37

$0.57 ¥3.85

91.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.0

$1.93 ¥12.94

-16.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.74

$1.33 ¥8.88

9.77%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.65

$0.31 ¥2.10

312.90%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.31

$0.31 ¥2.08

241.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.94

$0.57 ¥3.82

26.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.56

$0.36 ¥2.40

47.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$3.78 ¥25.31

11.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿611

$10.28 ¥68.8

77.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$0.66 ¥4.44

146.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.8

$1.36 ¥9.13

113.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.32

$0.29 ¥1.93

203.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

$17.79 ¥119

202.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.14

$0.91 ¥6.08

28.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.30

$0.31 ¥2.10

87.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

$4.50 ¥30.12

-46.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.41

$1.20 ¥8.06

20.83%

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

$21.0K ฿701.4K

$19.6K ¥130.9K

7.48%

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

$26.4K ฿882.0K

$14.9K ¥99.6K

77.78%

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

$63.7 ฿2,125

$71.1 ¥476

-10.45%

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

$12.89 ฿430

$4.55 ¥30.51

183.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿685

$5.00 ¥33.50

310.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,302

$40.83 ¥274

-4.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

$16.24 ¥109

-75.86%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿220

$4.53 ¥30.34

45.25%

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

$784 ฿26.2K

$215 ¥1,441

264.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

$19.8K ¥132.9K

-26.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,840

$29.39 ¥197

87.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿826

$41.71 ¥279

-40.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,142

$44.20 ¥296

112.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,469

$70.1 ¥469

5.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

$328 ¥2,198

49.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,620

$170 ¥1,138

69.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.8K

$663 ¥4,443

34.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

$346 ¥2,321

50.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

$2,848 ¥19.1K

-30.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

$2,077 ¥13.9K

-30.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.1K

$644 ¥4,313

-6.57%

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: September 13, 2026

Last update for Handan: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $328 in Handan. 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 7% higher in Handan, 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 $18.00 in Handan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $174 – making Handan 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 Handan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 44% more than Handan, 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 $974 in Handan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Handan, 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 $215 in Handan. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 38% 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 $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Handan, where all-in costs run around $649, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Handan 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. Handan costs $649 versus $932 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 Handan. 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.