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

🙂 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 29.9% cheaper than Kaohsiung without rent, and 25.7% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 32.7% cheaper than Kaohsiung without rent, and 33.5% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Kaohsiung
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.03 ฿64.2
$4.03 NT$128
-49.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.59 ฿588
$33.61 NT$1,066
-44.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.48 ฿237
$5.46 NT$173
37.00%
Cappuccino
$2.00 ฿63.2
$3.06 NT$96.9
-34.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 ฿26.81
$0.99 NT$31.31
-14.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.13
$0.72 NT$22.94
-51.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ฿70.0
$1.73 NT$54.9
27.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.76 ฿119
$2.67 NT$84.8
40.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Kaohsiung
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 ฿54.4
$3.58 NT$114
-51.96%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 ฿51.7
$1.98 NT$62.7
-17.68%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 ฿36.66
$2.73 NT$86.5
-57.51%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿62.6
$3.36 NT$107
-41.07%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.93 ฿504
$16.15 NT$512
-1.36%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 ฿100
$9.40 NT$298
-66.28%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.90 ฿345
$17.59 NT$558
-38.03%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 ฿83.7
$6.26 NT$198
-57.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿38.70
$2.60 NT$82.4
-53.08%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.70 ฿53.7
$2.78 NT$88.1
-38.85%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 ฿50.3
$4.18 NT$133
-61.96%
Potato (1kg)
$1.32 ฿41.90
$3.06 NT$97.0
-56.86%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ฿36.99
$2.24 NT$71.0
-47.77%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ฿21.46
$1.94 NT$61.6
-64.95%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿17.64
$1.20 NT$37.96
-53.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.51 ฿143
$4.44 NT$141
1.58%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.07 ฿604
$15.55 NT$493
22.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 ฿56.0
$1.67 NT$53.0
5.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 ฿101
$2.54 NT$80.6
25.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Kaohsiung
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.96 ฿30.47
$0.84 NT$26.56
14.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.90 ฿598
$26.81 NT$850
-29.50%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ฿42.98
$2.82 NT$89.3
-51.77%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿42.80
$0.79 NT$24.95
70.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.03 ฿254
$5.92 NT$188
35.64%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 ฿39.34
$1.06 NT$33.61
16.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿669.8K
$34.4K NT$1.1M
-38.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿688.5K
$25.6K NT$812.4K
-15.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Kaohsiung
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$71.2 ฿2,255
$102 NT$3,222
-29.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.09 ฿446
$24.94 NT$791
-43.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.47 ฿553
$25.43 NT$806
-31.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Kaohsiung
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.07 ฿1,332
$39.54 NT$1,254
6.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88 ฿218
$11.17 NT$354
-38.41%
Cinema Ticket
$5.94 ฿188
$10.21 NT$324
-41.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Kaohsiung
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$307 ฿9,728
$427 NT$13.6K
-28.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿468.2K
$11.5K NT$364.7K
28.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Kaohsiung
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.7 ฿1,762
$96.0 NT$3,045
-42.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.79 ฿848
$35.47 NT$1,125
-24.47%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.2 ฿2,634
$89.2 NT$2,828
-6.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.1 ฿2,219
$100 NT$3,177
-30.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Kaohsiung
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$427 ฿13.5K
$446 NT$14.2K
-4.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$237 ฿7,504
$276 NT$8,745
-14.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$802 ฿25.4K
$927 NT$29.4K
-13.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$503 ฿15.9K
$692 NT$22.0K
-27.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,061 ฿65.2K
$4,744 NT$150.4K
-56.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,533 ฿48.5K
$3,257 NT$103.3K
-52.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Kaohsiung
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$654 ฿20.7K
$1,446 NT$45.9K
-54.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
2.3
117.39%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: March 1, 2026

Last update for Kaohsiung: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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