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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $920 per month in Chiang Mai vs $758 in Huizhou, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,408 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,177 in Huizhou, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,895 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,596 in Huizhou, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 21% more than Huizhou, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chiang Mai and Huizhou are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 33% lower, Huizhou 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.11 ฿69.1

$2.26 ¥15.19

-6.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.75 ฿648

$17.44 ¥117

13.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.85 ฿192

$4.99 ¥33.53

17.23%

Cappuccino

$1.76 ฿57.8

$2.95 ¥19.78

-40.34%

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

$0.74 ฿24.37

$0.55 ¥3.70

34.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ฿10.90

$0.31 ¥2.11

6.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.47 ฿81.0

$1.05 ¥7.08

135.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 ฿127

$1.61 ¥10.84

140.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ฿62.4

$1.81 ¥12.14

4.97%

White Bread (500g)

$1.67 ฿54.7

$1.63 ¥10.92

2.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.35 ฿44.24

$1.14 ¥7.66

18.42%

Eggs

$2.14 ฿70.2

$1.53 ¥10.26

39.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿521

$7.92 ¥53.2

100.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.83 ฿92.9

$4.19 ¥28.12

-32.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.53 ฿345

$12.03 ¥80.8

-12.47%

Apples (1kg)

$2.38 ฿78.2

$1.74 ¥11.70

36.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.01

$1.23 ¥8.23

-13.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.79

$1.24 ¥8.33

22.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿49.30

$1.41 ¥9.45

6.38%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿41.96

$1.01 ¥6.76

26.73%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.17

$1.16 ¥7.81

-5.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 ฿22.54

$0.66 ¥4.44

4.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.18

$0.48 ¥3.21

2.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿140

$3.01 ¥20.25

41.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.78 ฿550

$12.37 ¥83.1

35.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 ฿54.4

$1.05 ¥7.06

58.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 ฿92.3

$1.72 ¥11.53

63.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.44

$0.29 ¥1.93

210.34%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.9 ฿1,801

$17.63 ¥118

211.40%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 ฿39.24

$1.03 ¥6.92

16.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 ฿17.78

$0.41 ¥2.77

31.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.37 ฿77.9

$3.61 ¥24.22

-34.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 ฿46.88

$1.18 ¥7.93

21.19%

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

$21.1K ฿691.5K

$19.4K ¥130.5K

8.48%

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

$27.1K ฿890.2K

$15.7K ¥105.2K

73.23%

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

$64.7 ฿2,124

$50.1 ¥337

29.14%

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

$13.19 ฿433

$11.35 ¥76.2

16.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.44 ฿638

$9.92 ¥66.7

95.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.45 ฿1,294

$40.74 ¥274

-3.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿124

$14.49 ¥97.4

-73.98%

Cinema Ticket

$6.62 ฿217

$6.69 ¥44.91

-1.05%

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

$805 ฿26.4K

$418 ¥2,806

92.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿496.1K

$21.3K ¥143.3K

-29.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.8 ฿1,796

$50.8 ¥341

7.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.43 ฿834

$38.69 ¥260

-34.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.9 ฿3,015

$81.3 ¥546

13.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.7 ฿2,449

$75.9 ¥510

-1.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$467 ฿15.3K

$209 ¥1,405

123.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$282 ฿9,251

$236 ¥1,587

19.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.2K

$400 ¥2,685

122.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.1K

$403 ¥2,710

29.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,985 ฿65.1K

$2,195 ¥14.7K

-9.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,462 ฿48.0K

$1,173 ¥7,877

24.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$592 ฿19.4K

$862 ¥5,789

-31.31%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

3.45

61.45%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 17, 2026

Last update for Huizhou: August 18, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $467 in Chiang Mai versus $209 in Huizhou. 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 46% higher in Huizhou, 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 $17.00 in Huizhou. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $237 vs $201 – making Huizhou 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 Huizhou: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 21% more than Huizhou, 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 $1,380 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,136 in Huizhou. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $805 per month in Chiang Mai and $418 in Huizhou. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 18% 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 Huizhou, where all-in costs run around $758, than in Chiang Mai at $920. In Huizhou 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. Huizhou costs $758 versus $920 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 Huizhou. 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.