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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,284 in Okazaki, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,999 in Okazaki, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,714 in Okazaki, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 33% cheaper than Okazaki, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Okazaki are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Okazaki 4% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.6

$6.90 ¥1,104

-71.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$42.34 ¥6,773

-55.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿256

$5.58 ¥893

40.14%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.9

$3.18 ¥509

-38.68%

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

$0.85 ฿27.80

$1.16 ¥186

-26.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.60

$0.81 ¥129

-56.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.7

$2.03 ¥325

4.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$3.07 ¥491

21.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.58 ¥252

8.23%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.3

$1.70 ¥272

-4.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.18

$4.91 ¥785

-76.78%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.2

$2.21 ¥353

-12.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$10.23 ¥1,637

58.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$6.21 ¥994

-49.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$15.27 ¥2,443

-28.62%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.1

$6.08 ¥972

-54.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.56

$3.14 ¥502

-61.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$3.98 ¥637

-59.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.9

$5.96 ¥953

-73.32%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.75

$3.23 ¥517

-56.66%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.20

$4.30 ¥688

-72.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.62

$1.34 ¥214

-50.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.24

$0.83 ¥133

-36.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$4.12 ¥659

13.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿610

$9.18 ¥1,468

103.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.77 ¥284

1.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.04 ¥326

58.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.28

$1.62 ¥259

-44.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$54.6 ¥8,727

-64.79%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.96

$3.51 ¥562

-59.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.16

$3.30 ¥529

-60.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$22.28 ¥3,564

-64.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.62

$1.18 ¥188

7.63%

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

$21.3K ฿695.5K

$23.3K ¥3.7M

-8.84%

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

$22.2K ฿726.1K

$18.8K ¥3.0M

18.10%

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

$69.1 ฿2,258

$141 ¥22.6K

-51.15%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$27.31 ¥4,368

-48.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$33.42 ¥5,345

-46.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,342

$56.0 ¥8,948

-26.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$13.98 ¥2,236

-50.21%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$10.60 ¥1,696

-44.15%

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

$299 ฿9,775

$280 ¥44.7K

6.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.8K

$13.7K ¥2.2M

9.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,788

$42.05 ¥6,727

30.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿875

$29.33 ¥4,691

-8.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,778

$60.5 ¥9,676

40.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,308

$109 ¥17.4K

-35.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$470 ¥75.1K

-8.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,759

$325 ¥52.0K

-26.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$883 ¥141.3K

-9.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.9K

$659 ¥105.4K

-21.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$4,564 ¥730.0K

-56.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$2,395 ¥383.1K

-38.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.05

143.90%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Okazaki: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $470 in Okazaki. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $42.00 in Okazaki. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $329 – 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 Okazaki: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Okazaki costs about 48% 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,927 in Okazaki. 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 $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $280 in Okazaki. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 33% more in Okazaki, 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 $866, than in Okazaki at $1,284. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Okazaki it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $1,284 in Okazaki. 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, Okazaki makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.