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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,219 in Hirakata, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,909 in Hirakata, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,599 in Hirakata, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 30% cheaper than Hirakata, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Hirakata are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Hirakata 9% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$7.09 ¥1,135

-72.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$34.39 ¥5,505

-45.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$5.91 ¥945

34.01%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$3.07 ¥492

-37.79%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$1.08 ¥173

-22.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.77 ¥123

-54.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$2.83 ¥453

-21.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$3.05 ¥489

24.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.60 ¥256

2.50%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$1.50 ¥240

8.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$4.68 ¥750

-74.79%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$2.33 ¥373

-13.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$10.51 ¥1,683

51.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$6.49 ¥1,039

-53.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$15.42 ¥2,469

-30.16%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$3.56 ¥571

-26.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$2.09 ¥335

-41.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$2.47 ¥395

-31.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$4.39 ¥703

-64.01%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$1.63 ¥261

-19.02%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$1.26 ¥201

-7.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$1.31 ¥210

-48.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.82 ¥132

-31.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$3.39 ¥543

33.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$9.58 ¥1,533

89.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$2.06 ¥330

-11.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.39 ¥383

35.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$1.59 ¥254

-44.03%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

$55.0 ¥8,806

-64.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$3.44 ¥551

-60.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$2.98 ¥476

-54.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$17.34 ¥2,776

-52.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$1.23 ¥197

3.25%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$22.9K ¥3.7M

-7.46%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$16.8K ¥2.7M

33.78%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$130 ¥20.9K

-46.16%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$27.61 ¥4,420

-50.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$30.90 ¥4,946

-43.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$55.2 ¥8,833

-24.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

$13.69 ¥2,191

-51.79%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$12.72 ¥2,036

-54.56%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$68.1 ¥10.9K

349.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$10.4K ¥1.7M

42.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$44.92 ¥7,192

21.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$29.66 ¥4,748

-11.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$56.8 ¥9,100

48.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$92.9 ¥14.9K

-25.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$477 ¥76.4K

-11.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$331 ¥53.0K

-28.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$850 ¥136.1K

-2.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$658 ¥105.3K

-21.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

$4,534 ¥725.8K

-54.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

$1,907 ¥305.3K

-66.69%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.78

180.90%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Last update for Hirakata: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $477 in Hirakata. 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 200% higher in Hirakata, 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $34.00 in Hirakata. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $288 – 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 Hirakata: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Hirakata costs about 43% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,829 in Hirakata. 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 $306 per month in Chiang Mai and $68.1 in Hirakata. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 19% more in Hirakata, 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 $852, than in Hirakata at $1,219. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Hirakata it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $1,219 in Hirakata. 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, Hirakata makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.