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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $733 in Jinan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,159 in Jinan, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,585 in Jinan, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 16% more than Jinan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Jinan are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Jinan 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$2.82 ¥19.29

-30.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$28.20 ¥193

-33.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$4.85 ¥33.25

63.30%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$3.30 ¥22.59

-42.12%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$0.45 ¥3.06

86.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.23 ¥1.57

52.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$0.83 ¥5.69

166.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$1.92 ¥13.18

97.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.86 ¥12.75

-11.83%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$1.60 ¥10.96

1.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$1.10 ¥7.54

7.27%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$1.22 ¥8.38

64.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$8.84 ¥60.6

79.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$2.87 ¥19.65

4.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$8.97 ¥61.5

20.07%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$1.27 ¥8.71

105.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$0.96 ¥6.57

27.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$1.31 ¥8.95

29.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$0.70 ¥4.82

125.71%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$0.57 ¥3.91

131.58%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$0.49 ¥3.34

138.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$0.41 ¥2.78

63.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.45 ¥3.07

24.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$3.04 ¥20.83

49.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$9.92 ¥68.0

83.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$0.85 ¥5.85

115.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.64 ¥11.21

96.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$0.40 ¥2.76

122.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

$8.48 ¥58.1

128.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$1.58 ¥10.82

-14.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$0.32 ¥2.20

321.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$4.26 ¥29.17

93.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$1.17 ¥7.99

8.55%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$17.0K ¥116.1K

24.79%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$18.1K ¥124.2K

23.99%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$85.0 ¥582

-17.45%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$10.04 ¥68.8

37.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$7.13 ¥48.82

146.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$96.1 ¥658

-56.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

$7.04 ¥48.21

-6.25%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$5.99 ¥41.00

-3.51%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$207 ¥1,421

47.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$17.7K ¥121.0K

-16.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$38.83 ¥266

40.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$29.36 ¥201

-10.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$77.2 ¥529

9.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$69.9 ¥479

-0.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$284 ¥1,944

49.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$153 ¥1,045

56.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$690 ¥4,726

19.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$313 ¥2,141

64.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

$2,369 ¥16.2K

-13.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

$1,297 ¥8,882

17.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

$967 ¥6,627

-34.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.94

26.90%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Last update for Jinan: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $284 in Jinan. 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 52% higher in Jinan, 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 $28.00 in Jinan. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $170 in Jinan – so Jinan 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 Jinan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 16% more than Jinan, 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 $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,100 in Jinan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Jinan, 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 $207 in Jinan. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 43% 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.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $733 in Jinan, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Jinan costs $733 versus $852 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 Jinan. 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.