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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $942 per month in Chiang Mai vs $687 in Shantou, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,427 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,090 in Shantou, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,912 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,494 in Shantou, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 37% more than Shantou, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Chiang Mai and Shantou are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 30% lower, Shantou 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.9

$2.21 ¥14.79

-5.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.91 ฿659

$23.88 ¥160

-16.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.58 ฿185

$5.16 ¥34.52

8.14%

Cappuccino

$1.74 ฿57.5

$3.22 ¥21.57

-45.96%

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

$0.72 ฿23.82

$0.46 ¥3.09

56.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.59

$0.33 ¥2.21

-3.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.25 ฿74.5

$0.87 ¥5.81

158.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.81 ฿126

$2.18 ¥14.59

74.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.02 ฿66.8

$1.54 ¥10.32

31.17%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.0

$1.45 ¥9.71

8.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.21

$0.76 ¥5.09

84.21%

Eggs

$2.15 ฿71.3

$1.70 ¥11.35

26.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.63 ฿518

$13.82 ¥92.5

13.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.6

$3.61 ¥24.16

-18.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.49 ฿314

$13.00 ¥87.0

-27.00%

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 ฿86.2

$2.06 ¥13.75

26.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 ฿35.80

$1.50 ¥10.07

-28.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.59 ฿52.7

$1.79 ¥11.99

-11.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.45 ฿48.09

$1.38 ¥9.22

5.07%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.26

$0.82 ¥5.50

56.10%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 ฿36.78

$1.01 ¥6.78

9.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 ฿24.04

$0.60 ¥4.00

21.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.54

$0.43 ¥2.89

16.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿141

$3.72 ¥24.87

14.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.67 ฿585

$11.97 ¥80.1

47.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 ฿55.7

$0.83 ¥5.55

102.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.80 ฿92.8

$1.77 ¥11.84

58.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ฿28.64

$0.39 ¥2.58

123.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.2 ฿1,794

$24.34 ¥163

122.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 ฿40.15

$1.51 ¥10.11

-19.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 ฿17.84

$0.39 ¥2.59

38.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.0

$7.14 ¥47.78

-66.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 ฿48.46

$1.26 ¥8.43

15.87%

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

$21.0K ฿695.7K

$19.7K ¥131.6K

6.86%

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

$26.7K ฿883.8K

$18.1K ¥121.2K

47.36%

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

$62.1 ฿2,055

$57.2 ¥382

8.61%

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

$12.93 ฿428

$8.88 ¥59.4

45.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.61 ฿682

$14.02 ¥93.8

47.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.21 ฿1,298

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿125

Cinema Ticket

$6.52 ฿216

$7.49 ¥50.1

-12.95%

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

$803 ฿26.6K

$537 ¥3,594

49.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿486.6K

$23.8K ¥159.0K

-38.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.9 ฿1,850

$51.4 ¥344

8.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.51 ฿845

$39.41 ¥264

-35.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.1 ฿3,015

$69.9 ¥468

30.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.3 ฿2,427

$88.8 ¥594

-17.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$300 ¥2,006

61.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,542

$150 ¥1,001

92.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$885 ฿29.3K

$592 ¥3,963

49.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$523 ฿17.3K

$299 ¥1,998

75.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,989 ฿65.9K

$2,202 ¥14.7K

-9.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,440 ฿47.7K

$4,442 ¥29.7K

-67.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$603 ฿20.0K

$1,067 ¥7,141

-43.53%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

3.4

63.82%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 21, 2026

Last update for Shantou: September 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $300 in Shantou. 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 77% higher in Shantou, 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 $24.00 in Shantou. Groceries tell a different story – $238 in Chiang Mai vs $215 in Shantou – so Shantou wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Shantou: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 37% more than Shantou, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,414 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,030 in Shantou. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $803 per month in Chiang Mai and $537 in Shantou. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 10% 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 Shantou, where all-in costs run around $687, than in Chiang Mai at $942. In Shantou 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. Shantou costs $687 versus $942 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 Shantou. 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.