Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Uijeongbu

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $935 a month against $1,365 in Uijeongbu, rent and utilities included – about $5,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
Learn more

Chiang Mai Living Index
66

Cost of Living Index in Uijeongbu
Learn more

Uijeongbu Living Index

Jump to prices

Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$935

/mo nomad

Uijeongbu

🇰🇷 South Korea

$1,365

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

A single person spends $935 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,365 in Uijeongbu, rent included.

Chiang Mai $935
Uijeongbu $1,365

A couple spends around $1,467 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,203 in Uijeongbu, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,467
Uijeongbu $2,203

A family of three spends $1,999 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,042 in Uijeongbu, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,999
Uijeongbu $3,042

Chiang Mai is about 31% cheaper than Uijeongbu, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.13 ฿71.7

$6.55 ₩8,776

-67.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.62 ฿625

$34.28 ₩46.0K

-45.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.60 ฿188

$6.87 ₩9,209

-18.49%

Cappuccino

$1.66 ฿55.9

$3.58 ₩4,796

-53.63%

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

$0.65 ฿21.73

$1.57 ₩2,107

-58.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ฿10.24

$0.73 ₩981

-58.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 ฿78.0

$3.56 ₩4,771

-34.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿123

$4.38 ₩5,867

-16.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.02 ฿67.7

$2.00 ₩2,675

1.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ฿47.29

$3.16 ₩4,231

-55.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.75

$2.56 ₩3,438

-45.70%

Eggs

$2.37 ฿79.5

$3.36 ₩4,501

-29.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.52 ฿555

$15.38 ₩20.6K

7.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.67 ฿89.7

$10.34 ₩13.9K

-74.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.02 ฿303

$10.93 ₩14.7K

-17.47%

Apples (1kg)

$2.40 ฿80.6

$6.77 ₩9,070

-64.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 ฿34.98

$2.50 ₩3,350

-58.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.66 ฿55.7

$4.33 ₩5,809

-61.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 ฿52.4

$6.13 ₩8,222

-74.55%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.57

$3.31 ₩4,434

-62.54%

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.50

$2.56 ₩3,431

-57.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 ฿25.59

$2.09 ₩2,801

-63.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿17.27

$1.10 ₩1,481

-53.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.12 ฿138

$3.42 ₩4,588

20.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.93 ฿602

$13.72 ₩18.4K

30.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 ฿54.5

$2.33 ₩3,127

-30.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 ฿94.8

$3.28 ₩4,401

-14.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿31.39

$1.14 ₩1,524

-18.42%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$52.9 ฿1,777

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ฿39.52

$3.51 ₩4,705

-66.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.17 ฿5.76

$0.57 ₩769

-70.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 ฿60.9

$9.11 ₩12.2K

-80.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ฿49.47

$1.34 ₩1,791

9.70%

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

$21.0K ฿705.8K

$29.6K ₩39.6M

-28.95%

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

$26.5K ฿890.7K

$28.3K ₩37.9M

-6.28%

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

$62.6 ฿2,101

$210 ₩281.0K

-70.16%

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

$11.60 ฿390

$34.30 ₩46.0K

-66.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.30 ฿682

$20.38 ₩27.3K

-0.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.88 ฿1,272

$50.5 ₩67.7K

-24.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.70 ฿124

$13.68 ₩18.3K

-72.95%

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 ฿219

$11.30 ₩15.2K

-42.39%

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

$727 ฿24.4K

$439 ₩588.7K

65.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.6K ฿556.7K

$17.7K ₩23.7M

-6.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.5 ฿1,798

$62.1 ₩83.2K

-13.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.80 ฿833

$33.73 ₩45.2K

-26.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.4 ฿3,036

$68.8 ₩92.2K

31.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.0 ฿2,418

$80.5 ₩108.0K

-10.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$481 ฿16.2K

$492 ₩659.6K

-2.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$310 ฿10.4K

$369 ₩495.0K

-16.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,058 ฿35.5K

$1,273 ₩1.7M

-16.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$659 ฿22.1K

$955 ₩1.3M

-31.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,418 ฿81.2K

$7,028 ₩9.4M

-65.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,609 ฿54.0K

$5,549 ₩7.4M

-71.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿20.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

4.08

36.52%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: November 1, 2026

Last update for Uijeongbu: October 31, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$310 33.1%

Uijeongbu

$369 27.1% 19.1% $59

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$237 25.3%

Uijeongbu

$385 28.2% 62.7% $148

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$108 11.6%

Uijeongbu

$110 8.1% 1.8% $2

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Uijeongbu

$264 19.4% 180% $170

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$77 8.2%

Uijeongbu

$152 11.1% 98.1% $75

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$59 6.3%

Uijeongbu

$11 * 0.8% 81.4% $48

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$51 5.4%

Uijeongbu

$73 5.4% 43.6% $22

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $481 in Chiang Mai versus $492 in Uijeongbu. 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 in Chiang Mai versus $34 in Uijeongbu. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $237 vs $385 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇰🇷 Uijeongbu

🕒 Local time

12:32 12:32 PM

14:32 2:32 PM

2 h ahead of Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

463,077

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

South Korean Won KRW ₩

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.98 USD

100 THB = 2.64 EUR

10,000 KRW = 7.46 USD

10,000 KRW = 6.63 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

KRW, 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).

South Korean Won exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 1,341 KRW (10,000 KRW = 7.46 USD). 1 EUR = 1,509 KRW (10,000 KRW = 6.63 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai Uijeongbu 3,440 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Uijeongbu

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 Uijeongbu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Uijeongbu costs about 46% more than Chiang Mai, 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 $2,047 in Uijeongbu. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A central 1-bedroom goes for about $481 in Chiang Mai and $492 in Uijeongbu. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai and $34 in Uijeongbu. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 63% more in Uijeongbu, though the gap depends on what you buy.

$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $935 in Chiang Mai and $1,365 in Uijeongbu. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $935 in Chiang Mai to $1,365 in Uijeongbu. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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