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 $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $698 in Huizhou, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,106 in Huizhou, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,514 in Huizhou, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 25% more than Huizhou, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Huizhou are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Huizhou 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$2.14 ¥14.44

-7.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$16.51 ¥112

13.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$4.68 ¥31.66

65.60%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$2.76 ¥18.63

-30.43%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$0.46 ¥3.09

71.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$0.29 ¥1.99

24.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$0.99 ¥6.67

123.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$1.49 ¥10.10

145.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$1.80 ¥12.16

-8.33%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$1.46 ¥9.87

11.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$1.05 ¥7.12

13.33%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$1.47 ¥9.96

36.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$7.20 ¥48.70

121.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$4.16 ¥28.13

-27.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$11.67 ¥78.9

-6.94%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$1.62 ¥10.94

70.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$1.21 ¥8.15

-2.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.20 ¥8.12

36.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$1.28 ¥8.66

18.75%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$0.92 ¥6.24

50.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$1.04 ¥7.06

14.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$0.52 ¥3.55

34.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$0.46 ¥3.09

21.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$2.74 ¥18.54

67.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

$10.41 ¥70.4

59.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

$0.93 ¥6.29

96.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

$1.40 ¥9.43

128.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$0.27 ¥1.81

225.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

$16.95 ¥115

10.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$1.00 ¥6.78

36.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$0.38 ¥2.54

252.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$3.57 ¥24.11

119.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$1.11 ¥7.53

10.81%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$18.2K ¥123.3K

18.57%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$13.9K ¥94.1K

62.02%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$45.84 ¥310

53.88%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$10.57 ¥71.5

29.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$9.31 ¥63.0

87.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$37.06 ¥251

11.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$13.66 ¥92.3

-49.05%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$6.39 ¥43.21

-9.70%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$315 ¥2,127

-2.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$16.2K ¥109.5K

-9.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$40.42 ¥273

38.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$28.86 ¥195

-9.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$69.1 ¥467

24.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$60.8 ¥411

18.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$197 ¥1,329

118.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$215 ¥1,453

11.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$378 ¥2,558

116.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$384 ¥2,598

32.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

$2,249 ¥15.2K

-11.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

$1,205 ¥8,145

23.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

$852 ¥5,763

-27.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

25.00%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Last update for Huizhou: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $197 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 38% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $17.00 in Huizhou. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $187 – 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 25% more than Huizhou, 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 $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,047 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 $307 per month in Chiang Mai and $315 in Huizhou. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 29% 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.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $869 in Chiang Mai and $698 in Huizhou, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Huizhou costs $698 versus $869 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.