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

🙂 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 26.7% cheaper than Hsinchu without rent, and 25.4% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 30.2% cheaper than Hsinchu without rent, and 30.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Hsinchu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.94 ฿62.8
$4.18 NT$123
-53.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.36 ฿594
$33.68 NT$993
-45.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.78 ฿252
$5.34 NT$158
45.69%
Cappuccino
$1.96 ฿63.3
$3.02 NT$89
-35.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 ฿27.01
$0.99 NT$29.23
-16.16%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.44
$0.69 NT$20.22
-49.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.1 ฿67.9
$1.68 NT$49.43
25.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75 ฿121
$2.33 NT$68.7
60.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Hsinchu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.69 ฿54.8
$3.19 NT$94
-47.02%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 ฿52.6
$1.76 NT$52
-7.39%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.2 ฿38.83
$4.52 NT$133
-73.45%
Eggs
$1.99 ฿64.5
$2.5 NT$73.7
-20.40%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.97 ฿517
$14.14 NT$417
12.94%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.14 ฿102
$4.88 NT$144
-35.66%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.94 ฿354
$16.39 NT$484
-33.25%
Apples (1kg)
$2.68 ฿86.6
$4.49 NT$132
-40.31%
Banana (1kg)
$1.17 ฿37.97
$2.51 NT$74.2
-53.39%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.63 ฿52.6
$2.73 NT$80.6
-40.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.54 ฿49.78
$3.87 NT$114
-60.21%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 ฿43.23
$3.03 NT$89.4
-55.78%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ฿37.78
$2.17 NT$64
-46.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.67 ฿21.52
$1.89 NT$55.7
-64.55%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿18.09
$1.15 NT$33.85
-51.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.57 ฿148
$4.48 NT$132
2.01%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.42 ฿596
$18.03 NT$532
2.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ฿57.9
$1.69 NT$49.76
5.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27 ฿106
$2.58 NT$76.2
26.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Hsinchu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.96 ฿31.19
$0.85 NT$25
12.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.98 ฿614
$40.68 NT$1,200
-53.34%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.35 ฿43.78
$2.85 NT$83.9
-52.63%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.3 ฿42.14
$0.72 NT$21.38
80.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.24 ฿267
$5.93 NT$175
38.95%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 ฿39.97
$1.07 NT$31.48
15.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K ฿699.5K
$35.2K NT$1M
-38.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿706.1K
$25.2K NT$742.9K
-13.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Hsinchu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.2 ฿2,272
$75 NT$2,212
-6.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.18 ฿459
$25.26 NT$745
-43.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.88 ฿579
$25.03 NT$738
-28.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Hsinchu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.29 ฿1,369
$43.65 NT$1,288
-3.12%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.73 ฿218
$23.96 NT$707
-71.91%
Cinema Ticket
$5.7 ฿185
$10 NT$295
-43.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Hsinchu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 ฿9,969
$435 NT$12.8K
-29.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.1K ฿487.6K
$11.4K NT$335.2K
32.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Hsinchu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.3 ฿1,822
$87 NT$2,567
-35.31%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.3 ฿851
$35.38 NT$1,044
-25.66%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.7 ฿2,742
$91.1 NT$2,689
-7.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.2 ฿2,336
$103 NT$3,037
-29.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Hsinchu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$434 ฿14.1K
$543 NT$16K
-20.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$243 ฿7,854
$360 NT$10.6K
-32.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$807 ฿26.1K
$1,200 NT$35.4K
-32.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$499 ฿16.2K
$801 NT$23.6K
-37.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,195 ฿71K
$8,822 NT$260.2K
-75.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,560 ฿50.5K
$6,781 NT$200K
-77.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Hsinchu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$683 ฿22.1K
$2,352 NT$69.4K
-70.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
1.57
218.47%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: November 3, 2025

Last update for Hsinchu: November 5, 2025

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