Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Ongjin

For one person, living is cheaper in Ongjin: $711 a month against $938 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $2,700 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Chiang Mai outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
Learn more

Chiang Mai Living Index
34

Cost of Living Index in Ongjin
Learn more

Ongjin Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$938

/mo nomad

Ongjin

🇰🇵 North Korea

$711

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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 Ongjin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $938 per month in Chiang Mai vs $711 in Ongjin, rent included.

Chiang Mai $938
Ongjin $711

A couple spends around $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,113 in Ongjin, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,426
Ongjin $1,113

A family of three spends $1,914 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,514 in Ongjin, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,914
Ongjin $1,514

Chiang Mai costs about 32% more than Ongjin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.26 ฿75.4

$2.71 $2.71

-16.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.18 ฿641

$22.81 $22.81

-15.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.59 ฿187

$8.04 $8.04

-30.47%

Cappuccino

$1.72 ฿57.6

$1.13 $1.13

52.21%

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

$0.64 ฿21.54

$0.94 $0.94

-31.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ฿11.18

$0.99 $0.99

-66.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 ฿78.7

$6.89 $6.89

-65.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.90 ฿130

$2.17 $2.17

79.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.6

$0.91 $0.91

125.27%

White Bread (500g)

$1.40 ฿46.70

$1.58 $1.58

-11.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.89

$2.16 $2.16

-40.74%

Eggs

$2.25 ฿75.3

$3.13 $3.13

-28.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.94 ฿566

$4.47 $4.47

278.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.74 ฿91.6

$2.22 $2.22

23.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.36 ฿313

$5.64 $5.64

65.96%

Apples (1kg)

$2.40 ฿80.3

$6.77 $6.77

-64.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.01 ฿33.92

$4.57 $4.57

-77.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.9

$2.25 $2.25

-28.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.7

$2.21 $2.21

-31.22%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.90

$3.26 $3.26

-60.74%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 ฿37.22

$3.45 $3.45

-67.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿24.09

$2.26 $2.26

-68.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.54

$0.46 $0.46

13.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.33 ฿145

$4.41 $4.41

-1.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.73 ฿593

$7.99 $7.99

121.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$1.10 $1.10

48.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.85 ฿95.3

$2.21 $2.21

28.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 ฿28.31

$0.97 $0.97

-12.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,801

$39.70 $39.70

35.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.18

$1.53 $1.53

-23.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.57 ฿19.00

$2.27 $2.27

-74.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.37 ฿79.2

$39.99 $39.99

-94.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.32

$0.70 $0.70

107.14%

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

$20.5K ฿684.3K

$22.1K $22.1K

-7.48%

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

$26.5K ฿886.1K

$27.9K $27.9K

-4.91%

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

$62.3 ฿2,083

$33.24 $33.24

87.52%

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

$12.27 ฿410

$11.00 $11.00

11.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.97 ฿668

$45.10 $45.10

-55.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.91 ฿1,267

$41.60 $41.60

-8.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.76 ฿126

$14.47 $14.47

-74.02%

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿224

$7.63 $7.63

-12.06%

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

$797 ฿26.6K

$107 $107

648.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿495.7K

$2,080 $2,080

613.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.3 ฿1,780

$22.73 $22.73

134.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.05 ฿837

$27.97 $27.97

-10.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.6 ฿3,062

$60.7 $60.7

50.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.5 ฿2,455

$84.6 $84.6

-13.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$464 ฿15.5K

$89.7 $89.7

417.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$305 ฿10.2K

$87.9 $87.9

246.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$915 ฿30.6K

$2,189 $2,189

-58.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$552 ฿18.5K

$133 $133

314.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,912 ฿63.9K

$1,663 $1,663

15.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,438 ฿48.1K

$1,376 $1,376

4.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

$208 $208

186.38%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

7.11

-21.66%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 13, 2026

Last update for Ongjin: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$305 32.5%

Ongjin

$88 12.4% 71.2% $217

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$238 25.4%

Ongjin

$226 31.8% 5% $12

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$110 11.7%

Ongjin

$88 12.4% 19.4% $21

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$95 10.1%

Ongjin

$89 12.6% 5.5% $5.2

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$79 8.4%

Ongjin

$106 14.9% 34% $27

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.5%

Ongjin

$56 8% 7.9% $4.8

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$51 5.5%

Ongjin

$57 8% 10.8% $5.5

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $464 in Chiang Mai versus $89.7 in Ongjin. 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 186% higher in Chiang Mai, 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $23.00 in Ongjin. Groceries tell a different story – $238 in Chiang Mai vs $226 in Ongjin – so Ongjin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇰🇵 Ongjin

🕒 Local time

15:42 3:42 PM

17:42 5:42 PM

2 h ahead of Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

152,878

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

USD USD

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.99 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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).

USD exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Chiang Mai Ongjin 3,320 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Ongjin

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 Ongjin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 32% more than Ongjin, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. 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 $1,066 in Ongjin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ongjin, 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 $107 in Ongjin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 5% 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 Ongjin, where all-in costs run around $711, than in Chiang Mai at $938. In Ongjin 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. Ongjin costs $711 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 Ongjin. 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.