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 $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $679 in Mianyang, Sichuan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,083 in Mianyang, Sichuan, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,486 in Mianyang, Sichuan, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 28% more than Mianyang, Sichuan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Mianyang, Sichuan are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Mianyang, Sichuan 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$2.83 ¥19.10

-30.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$16.75 ¥113

12.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$4.85 ¥32.82

59.79%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$2.90 ¥19.63

-33.79%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$0.46 ¥3.12

71.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$0.29 ¥1.97

24.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$1.12 ¥7.58

97.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$2.10 ¥14.21

74.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$1.41 ¥9.56

17.02%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$1.41 ¥9.52

15.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$0.93 ¥6.27

27.96%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$1.84 ¥12.42

8.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$13.87 ¥93.8

15.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$3.45 ¥23.30

-12.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$11.51 ¥77.9

-5.65%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$1.89 ¥12.80

46.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$1.19 ¥8.03

-0.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.52 ¥10.27

7.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$1.03 ¥6.98

47.57%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$0.70 ¥4.76

97.14%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$0.72 ¥4.85

65.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$0.55 ¥3.70

27.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$0.61 ¥4.10

-8.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$3.42 ¥23.15

33.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

$5.60 ¥37.86

195.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

$0.83 ¥5.59

120.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

$1.24 ¥8.38

158.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$0.29 ¥1.98

203.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

$16.88 ¥114

10.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$1.00 ¥6.79

36.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$0.24 ¥1.61

458.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$4.10 ¥27.72

91.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$1.18 ¥7.97

4.24%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$18.7K ¥126.8K

15.33%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$16.2K ¥109.8K

38.89%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$44.18 ¥299

59.67%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$6.28 ¥42.43

117.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$11.58 ¥78.3

50.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$42.02 ¥284

-1.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$14.20 ¥96.0

-50.99%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$5.43 ¥36.69

6.26%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$342 ¥2,311

-10.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$12.3K ¥82.9K

19.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$36.66 ¥248

52.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$39.30 ¥266

-33.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$55.1 ¥373

55.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$51.3 ¥347

40.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$277 ¥1,874

55.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$191 ¥1,290

25.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$584 ¥3,950

39.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$362 ¥2,447

41.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

$2,709 ¥18.3K

-26.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

$1,775 ¥12.0K

-16.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

$740 ¥5,002

-16.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.1

61.29%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Last update for Mianyang, Sichuan: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $277 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $17.00 in Mianyang, Sichuan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $191 – 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 28% more than Mianyang, Sichuan, 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 $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,018 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.

Kindergarten costs $307 per month in Chiang Mai and $342 in Mianyang, Sichuan. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 26% 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.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $869 in Chiang Mai and $679 in Mianyang, Sichuan, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mianyang, Sichuan costs $679 versus $869 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.