Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Lanzhou

For one person, living is cheaper in Lanzhou: $719 a month against $938 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $2,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index
35

Cost of Living Index in Lanzhou
Learn more

Lanzhou Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$938

/mo nomad

Lanzhou

🇨🇳 China

$719

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Lanzhou

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Lanzhou actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $938 per month in Chiang Mai vs $719 in Lanzhou, rent included.

Chiang Mai $938
Lanzhou $719

A couple spends around $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,143 in Lanzhou, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,426
Lanzhou $1,143

A family of three spends $1,914 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,567 in Lanzhou, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,914
Lanzhou $1,567

Chiang Mai costs about 31% more than Lanzhou, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Chiang Mai and Lanzhou are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 30% lower, Lanzhou 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.26 ฿75.4

$2.06 ¥13.80

9.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.18 ฿641

$28.34 ¥189

-32.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.59 ฿187

$5.86 ¥39.15

-4.61%

Cappuccino

$1.72 ฿57.6

$3.12 ¥20.89

-44.87%

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

$0.64 ฿21.54

$0.48 ¥3.19

33.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ฿11.18

$0.29 ¥1.93

13.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 ฿78.7

$1.10 ¥7.35

114.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.90 ฿130

$2.02 ¥13.54

93.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.6

$1.77 ¥11.81

15.82%

White Bread (500g)

$1.40 ฿46.70

$1.61 ¥10.75

-13.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.89

$0.96 ¥6.40

33.33%

Eggs

$2.25 ฿75.3

$1.60 ¥10.72

40.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.94 ฿566

$13.22 ¥88.4

28.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.74 ฿91.6

$3.43 ¥22.92

-20.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.36 ฿313

$12.11 ¥81.0

-22.71%

Apples (1kg)

$2.40 ฿80.3

$1.81 ¥12.09

32.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.01 ฿33.92

$1.28 ¥8.56

-21.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.9

$1.49 ¥9.97

8.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.7

$1.24 ¥8.32

22.58%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.90

$0.70 ¥4.70

82.86%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 ฿37.22

$0.93 ¥6.21

19.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿24.09

$0.60 ¥3.99

20.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.54

$0.55 ¥3.70

-5.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.33 ฿145

$3.77 ¥25.19

14.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.73 ฿593

$11.52 ¥77.0

53.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$0.83 ¥5.52

96.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.85 ฿95.3

$1.53 ¥10.25

86.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 ฿28.31

$0.29 ¥1.92

193.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,801

$18.07 ¥121

198.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.18

$1.48 ¥9.91

-20.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.57 ฿19.00

$0.32 ¥2.17

78.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.37 ฿79.2

$7.12 ¥47.58

-66.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.32

$1.46 ¥9.73

-0.68%

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

$20.5K ฿684.3K

$17.5K ¥117.2K

16.79%

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

$26.5K ฿886.1K

$15.0K ¥100.4K

76.65%

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

$62.3 ฿2,083

$58.0 ¥388

7.45%

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

$12.27 ฿410

$8.79 ¥58.8

39.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.97 ฿668

$11.18 ¥74.8

78.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.91 ฿1,267

$42.33 ¥283

-10.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.76 ฿126

$14.69 ¥98.2

-74.40%

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿224

$6.29 ¥42.06

6.68%

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

$797 ฿26.6K

$412 ¥2,756

93.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿495.7K

$17.6K ¥117.6K

-15.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.3 ฿1,780

$42.85 ¥287

24.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.05 ฿837

$33.44 ¥224

-25.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.6 ฿3,062

$75.6 ¥505

21.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.5 ฿2,455

$74.1 ¥495

-0.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$464 ฿15.5K

$295 ¥1,971

57.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$305 ฿10.2K

$168 ¥1,126

80.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$915 ฿30.6K

$626 ¥4,186

46.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$552 ฿18.5K

$297 ¥1,986

85.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,912 ฿63.9K

$2,671 ¥17.9K

-28.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,438 ฿48.1K

$1,611 ¥10.8K

-10.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

$953 ¥6,375

-37.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

85.67%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 13, 2026

Last update for Lanzhou: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$305 32.5%

Lanzhou

$168 23.4% 44.7% $136

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$238 25.4%

Lanzhou

$209 29.1% 12.1% $29

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$110 11.7%

Lanzhou

$102 14.2% 7.1% $7.8

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$95 10.1%

Lanzhou

$78 10.9% 17.6% $17

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$79 8.4%

Lanzhou

$84 11.7% 6.5% $5.2

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.5%

Lanzhou

$22 3.1% 63.6% $39

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$51 5.5%

Lanzhou

$55 7.6% 7% $3.6

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $464 in Chiang Mai versus $295 in Lanzhou. 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 60% higher in Lanzhou, 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 Lanzhou. Groceries tell a different story – $238 in Chiang Mai vs $209 in Lanzhou – so Lanzhou wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇨🇳 Lanzhou

🕒 Local time

12:31 12:31 PM

13:31 1:31 PM

1 h ahead of Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

3,688,400

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Chinese Yuan CNY ¥

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.99 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

1 CNY = 0.15 USD

1 CNY = 0.133 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

CNY, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Chinese Yuan exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 6.69 CNY (1 CNY = 0.15 USD). 1 EUR = 7.52 CNY (1 CNY = 0.133 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Chiang Mai Lanzhou 1,980 km ≈ 3 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Lanzhou

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Lanzhou: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 31% more than Lanzhou, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from transport. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,408 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,078 in Lanzhou. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $797 per month in Chiang Mai and $412 in Lanzhou. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 14% 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 $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Lanzhou, where all-in costs run around $719, than in Chiang Mai at $938. In Lanzhou 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. Lanzhou costs $719 versus $938 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 Lanzhou. 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.