Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Quang Ngai

For one person, living is cheaper in Quang Ngai: $484 a month against $935 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $5,400 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
Learn more

Chiang Mai Living Index
23

Cost of Living Index in Quang Ngai
Learn more

Quang Ngai Living Index

Jump to prices

Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$935

/mo nomad

Quang Ngai

🇻🇳 Vietnam

$484

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Quang Ngai

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

A single person spends $935 per month in Chiang Mai vs $484 in Quang Ngai, rent included.

Chiang Mai $935
Quang Ngai $484

A couple spends around $1,467 per month in Chiang Mai vs $751 in Quang Ngai, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,467
Quang Ngai $751

A family of three spends $1,999 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,019 in Quang Ngai, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,999
Quang Ngai $1,019

Chiang Mai costs about 93% more than Quang Ngai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Quang Ngai are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Quang Ngai 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.13 ฿71.7

$1.00 ₫25.7K

113.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.62 ฿625

$10.32 ₫265.3K

80.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.60 ฿188

$4.78 ₫122.9K

17.15%

Cappuccino

$1.66 ฿55.9

$1.29 ₫33.0K

28.68%

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

$0.65 ฿21.73

$0.32 ₫8,189

103.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ฿10.24

$0.17 ₫4,386

76.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 ฿78.0

$1.39 ₫35.6K

66.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿123

$1.48 ₫37.9K

147.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.02 ฿67.7

$1.59 ₫40.8K

27.04%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ฿47.29

$0.41 ₫10.5K

243.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.75

$0.80 ₫20.5K

73.75%

Eggs

$2.37 ฿79.5

$1.49 ₫38.3K

59.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.52 ฿555

$7.53 ₫193.5K

119.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.67 ฿89.7

$3.91 ₫100.6K

-31.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.02 ฿303

$6.36 ₫163.4K

41.82%

Apples (1kg)

$2.40 ฿80.6

$1.90 ₫48.9K

26.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 ฿34.98

$0.56 ₫14.5K

85.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.66 ฿55.7

$1.35 ₫34.7K

22.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 ฿52.4

$1.35 ₫34.7K

15.56%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.57

$1.20 ₫30.9K

3.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.50

$0.95 ₫24.5K

14.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 ฿25.59

$0.32 ₫8,278

137.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿17.27

$0.49 ₫12.5K

4.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.12 ฿138

$1.28 ₫33.0K

221.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.93 ฿602

$5.71 ₫146.6K

214.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 ฿54.5

$0.58 ₫15.0K

179.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 ฿94.8

$0.86 ₫22.0K

227.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿31.39

$0.37 ₫9,393

151.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$52.9 ฿1,777

$5.72 ₫147.0K

824.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ฿39.52

$0.60 ₫15.4K

96.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.17 ฿5.76

$0.38 ₫9,760

-55.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 ฿60.9

$1.93 ₫49.5K

-6.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ฿49.47

$0.80 ₫20.5K

83.75%

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

$21.0K ฿705.8K

$30.8K ₫790.7M

-31.71%

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

$26.5K ฿890.7K

$28.4K ₫729.3M

-6.57%

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

$62.6 ฿2,101

$66.1 ₫1.7M

-5.30%

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

$11.60 ฿390

$6.49 ₫166.7K

78.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.30 ฿682

$7.65 ₫196.7K

165.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.88 ฿1,272

$9.59 ₫246.4K

294.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.70 ฿124

$4.75 ₫122.0K

-22.11%

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 ฿219

$3.47 ₫89.2K

87.61%

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

$727 ฿24.4K

$136 ₫3.5M

434.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.6K ฿556.7K

$3,851 ₫99.0M

330.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.5 ฿1,798

$7.56 ₫194.2K

608.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.80 ฿833

$7.66 ₫197.0K

223.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.4 ฿3,036

$102 ₫2.6M

-11.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.0 ฿2,418

$26.65 ₫684.9K

170.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$481 ฿16.2K

$180 ₫4.6M

167.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$310 ฿10.4K

$119 ₫3.1M

160.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,058 ฿35.5K

$382 ₫9.8M

177.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$659 ฿22.1K

$247 ₫6.4M

166.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,418 ฿81.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,609 ฿54.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿20.0K

$219 ₫5.6M

171.33%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-20.43%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: November 1, 2026

Last update for Quang Ngai: October 31, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$310 33.1%

Quang Ngai

$119 24.6% 61.6% $191

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$237 25.3%

Quang Ngai

$144 29.8% 39.1% $93

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$108 11.6%

Quang Ngai

$65 13.4% 40.1% $43

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Quang Ngai

$80 16.6% 15.1% $14

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$77 8.2%

Quang Ngai

$50 10.3% 35.2% $27

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$59 6.3%

Quang Ngai

$9.7 2% 83.5% $49

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$51 5.4%

Quang Ngai

$17 3.4% 67.5% $34

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $481 in Chiang Mai versus $180 in Quang Ngai. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Chiang Mai are about 2.7 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $10 in Quang Ngai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $237 vs $144 – making Quang Ngai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇻🇳 Quang Ngai

🕒 Local time

07:36 7:36 AM

Same time as Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

112,384

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Vietnamese Dong VND ₫

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.98 USD

100 THB = 2.64 EUR

100,000 VND = 3.89 USD

100,000 VND = 3.46 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

VND, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 33.59 THB (100 THB = 2.98 USD). 1 EUR = 37.81 THB (100 THB = 2.64 EUR).

Vietnamese Dong exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 25,699 VND (100,000 VND = 3.89 USD). 1 EUR = 28,931 VND (100,000 VND = 3.46 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai Quang Ngai 1,120 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Quang Ngai

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 Quang Ngai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 93% more than Quang Ngai, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $726 in Quang Ngai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Quang Ngai, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $180 there versus $481 in Chiang Mai.

Kindergarten costs $727 per month in Chiang Mai and $136 in Quang Ngai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 64% more in Chiang Mai, though the gap depends on what you buy.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $935 in Chiang Mai and $484 in Quang Ngai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Quang Ngai – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

If budget matters most, go with Quang Ngai. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.