Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Mianyang, Sichuan Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Mianyang, Sichuan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $645 in Mianyang, Sichuan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $988 in Mianyang, Sichuan, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,331 in Mianyang, Sichuan, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 44% more than Mianyang, Sichuan, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chiang Mai and Mianyang, Sichuan are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Mianyang, Sichuan 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.5

$2.91 ¥19.48

-28.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿655

$17.69 ¥118

10.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$5.05 ¥33.86

12.28%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.3

$2.85 ¥19.10

-36.49%

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

$0.77 ฿25.65

$0.47 ¥3.12

63.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.53

$0.28 ¥1.90

25.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.9

$1.52 ¥10.18

45.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

$2.47 ¥16.56

53.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.4

$1.53 ¥10.22

33.99%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.6

$1.67 ¥11.16

-9.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.69

$0.89 ¥5.93

57.30%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

$1.59 ¥10.63

42.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

$14.51 ¥97.2

11.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.7

$3.47 ¥23.22

-16.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$10.99 ¥73.6

-14.29%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.4

$1.88 ¥12.58

42.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.37

$1.31 ¥8.76

-16.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.0

$1.07 ¥7.17

51.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.74

$1.24 ¥8.31

17.74%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.65

$0.75 ¥5.03

70.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.31

$0.73 ¥4.88

45.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.94

$0.58 ¥3.92

24.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.56

$0.59 ¥3.96

-10.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$3.70 ¥24.79

14.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿611

$5.61 ¥37.56

226.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$0.83 ¥5.59

96.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.8

$1.37 ¥9.18

111.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.32

$0.29 ¥1.91

203.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.14

$1.05 ¥7.06

11.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.30

$0.28 ¥1.90

107.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

$4.53 ¥30.37

-47.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.41

$1.28 ¥8.60

13.28%

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

$21.0K ฿701.4K

$19.0K ¥127.2K

10.68%

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

$26.4K ฿882.0K

$17.4K ¥116.2K

52.27%

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

$63.7 ฿2,125

$40.65 ¥272

56.58%

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

$12.89 ฿430

$6.63 ¥44.38

94.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿685

$12.84 ¥86.0

59.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,302

$18.16 ¥122

114.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿220

$5.64 ¥37.75

16.67%

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

$784 ฿26.2K

$416 ¥2,785

88.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

$15.0K ¥100.2K

-1.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,840

$28.82 ¥193

91.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿826

$30.35 ¥203

-18.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,142

$59.2 ¥397

58.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,469

$52.6 ¥352

40.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

$220 ¥1,473

122.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,620

$192 ¥1,287

49.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.8K

$420 ¥2,812

112.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

$327 ¥2,188

59.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

$2,638 ¥17.7K

-25.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

$1,780 ¥11.9K

-18.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.1K

$722 ¥4,836

-16.68%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

3.1

79.68%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Mianyang, Sichuan: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $220 in Mianyang, Sichuan. 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 20% higher in Mianyang, Sichuan, 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $18.00 in Mianyang, Sichuan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $195 – making Mianyang, Sichuan 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 Mianyang, Sichuan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 44% more than Mianyang, Sichuan, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $968 in Mianyang, Sichuan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $18.00 in Mianyang, Sichuan. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 24% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mianyang, Sichuan, where all-in costs run around $645, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Mianyang, Sichuan 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. Mianyang, Sichuan costs $645 versus $932 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 Mianyang, Sichuan. 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.