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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $767 in Heyuan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,200 in Heyuan, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,634 in Heyuan, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 13% more than Heyuan, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chiang Mai and Heyuan are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Heyuan 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.8

$2.73 ¥18.45

-28.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿611

$15.02 ¥102

24.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿256

$4.30 ¥29.11

81.86%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿64.1

$2.15 ¥14.53

-9.30%

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

$0.85 ฿27.88

$0.36 ¥2.44

136.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.63

$0.22 ¥1.49

59.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.9

$0.72 ¥4.90

195.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$1.64 ¥11.11

127.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.2

$1.93 ¥13.05

-11.40%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.4

$2.09 ¥14.14

-22.01%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.30

$1.25 ¥8.48

-8.80%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.4

$1.53 ¥10.33

26.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿532

$18.77 ¥127

-13.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$4.71 ¥31.84

-33.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿357

$14.21 ¥96.1

-23.29%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.3

$2.11 ¥14.26

30.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.68

$1.26 ¥8.55

-3.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.2

$1.94 ¥13.10

-16.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿52.0

$1.43 ¥9.68

11.19%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.89

$0.88 ¥5.92

59.09%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.32

$1.09 ¥7.35

7.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.69

$0.51 ¥3.48

29.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.29

$0.61 ¥4.10

-13.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿154

$3.88 ¥26.28

20.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿612

$10.40 ¥70.4

79.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿59.0

$0.93 ¥6.28

93.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.43 ¥9.70

125.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.37

$0.27 ¥1.82

233.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿630

$16.77 ¥113

14.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿46.10

$1.63 ¥11.05

-13.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.29

$0.38 ¥2.54

239.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿257

$6.22 ¥42.11

26.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.75

$1.18 ¥7.99

7.63%

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

$21.3K ฿697.7K

$21.2K ¥143.1K

0.58%

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

$22.2K ฿728.3K

$19.4K ¥131.3K

14.43%

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

$69.1 ฿2,265

$59.8 ¥405

15.42%

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

$14.08 ฿462

$12.99 ¥87.9

8.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿590

$11.78 ¥79.7

52.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,346

$42.28 ¥286

-2.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿228

$13.69 ¥92.6

-49.16%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿194

$6.22 ¥42.08

-4.82%

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

$299 ฿9,805

$320 ¥2,165

-6.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿490.3K

$16.3K ¥110.0K

-8.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,794

$41.68 ¥282

31.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿878

$27.93 ¥189

-4.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,787

$69.3 ¥469

22.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,315

$60.5 ¥409

16.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$279 ¥1,888

53.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,782

$191 ¥1,291

24.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.3K

$586 ¥3,967

36.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.9K

$364 ¥2,464

41.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.7K

$3,117 ¥21.1K

-36.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.4K

$1,629 ¥11.0K

-9.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$1,327 ¥8,978

-53.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.08

22.55%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Heyuan: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $279 in Heyuan. 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 115% higher in Heyuan, 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $15.00 in Heyuan. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $249 in Heyuan – so Chiang Mai wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Heyuan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 13% more than Heyuan, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,150 in Heyuan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $320 in Heyuan. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 1% cheaper in Chiang Mai – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $767 in Heyuan, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Heyuan costs $767 versus $866 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 Heyuan. 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.