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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $942 per month in Chiang Mai vs $973 in Keelung, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,427 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,719 in Keelung, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,912 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,465 in Keelung, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 3% cheaper than Keelung, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Keelung are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 30% lower, Keelung 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.4

$4.79 NT$152

-56.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.91 ฿664

$30.92 NT$980

-35.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.58 ฿186

$4.61 NT$146

21.04%

Cappuccino

$1.74 ฿58.0

$2.88 NT$91.2

-39.58%

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

$0.72 ฿24.01

$1.02 NT$32.35

-29.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.67

$0.74 NT$23.37

-56.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.25 ฿75.1

$1.60 NT$50.6

40.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.81 ฿127

$2.78 NT$88.1

37.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.02 ฿67.4

$3.20 NT$101

-36.88%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.4

$1.38 NT$43.75

13.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.58

$1.13 NT$35.89

23.89%

Eggs

$2.15 ฿71.8

$2.33 NT$73.7

-7.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.63 ฿522

$28.63 NT$907

-45.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿98.3

$5.72 NT$181

-48.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.49 ฿317

$16.86 NT$534

-43.71%

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 ฿86.9

$4.20 NT$133

-38.10%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 ฿36.08

$1.97 NT$62.5

-45.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.1

$1.86 NT$59.0

-14.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.45 ฿48.47

$2.18 NT$69.0

-33.49%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.60

$1.19 NT$37.58

7.56%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 ฿37.07

$1.89 NT$59.8

-41.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 ฿24.23

$2.43 NT$76.9

-69.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.67

$0.85 NT$26.96

-41.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿143

$3.88 NT$123

10.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.67 ฿590

$9.52 NT$302

85.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 ฿56.1

$1.07 NT$33.86

57.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.80 ฿93.5

$2.58 NT$81.9

8.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ฿28.87

$0.65 NT$20.76

33.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.2 ฿1,808

$63.6 NT$2,016

-14.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 ฿40.47

$2.76 NT$87.5

-56.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 ฿17.98

$0.99 NT$31.34

-45.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

$9.34 NT$296

-74.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 ฿48.84

$1.01 NT$31.96

44.55%

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

$21.0K ฿701.2K

$34.3K NT$1.1M

-38.75%

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

$26.7K ฿890.8K

$23.0K NT$728.5K

16.13%

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

$62.1 ฿2,071

$40.62 NT$1,287

52.81%

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

$12.93 ฿431

$14.80 NT$469

-12.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.61 ฿688

$10.88 NT$345

89.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.21 ฿1,308

$34.88 NT$1,105

12.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿126

$31.04 NT$984

-87.85%

Cinema Ticket

$6.52 ฿217

$7.98 NT$253

-18.30%

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

$803 ฿26.8K

$337 NT$10.7K

138.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿490.4K

$16.6K NT$524.7K

-11.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.9 ฿1,864

$67.6 NT$2,143

-17.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.51 ฿851

$36.58 NT$1,159

-30.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.1 ฿3,039

$46.89 NT$1,486

94.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.3 ฿2,446

$31.18 NT$988

135.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.1K

$402 NT$12.7K

20.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,617

$256 NT$8,112

12.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$885 ฿29.5K

$1,001 NT$31.7K

-11.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$523 ฿17.5K

$745 NT$23.6K

-29.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,989 ฿66.4K

$3,392 NT$107.5K

-41.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,440 ฿48.1K

$2,340 NT$74.2K

-38.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$603 ฿20.1K

$2,470 NT$78.3K

-75.59%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

2.27

145.37%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 21, 2026

Last update for Keelung: September 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $402 in Keelung. 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 310% higher in Keelung, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $31.00 in Keelung. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $238 vs $333 – making Chiang Mai 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 Keelung: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Keelung costs about 3% more than Chiang Mai, 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 $1,414 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,460 in Keelung. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $803 per month in Chiang Mai and $337 in Keelung. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 40% more in Keelung, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $942, than in Keelung at $973. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Keelung it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $942 versus $973 in Keelung. 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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Keelung makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.