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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,440 in Ulsan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,198 in Ulsan, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,957 in Ulsan, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 40% cheaper than Ulsan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Chiang Mai sits 35% below the global median, while Ulsan is 7% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$6.43 ₩9,772

-69.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$29.46 ₩44.7K

-36.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$4.60 ₩6,985

68.48%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$3.04 ₩4,614

-36.84%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$1.13 ₩1,720

-30.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$0.39 ₩591

-7.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$2.51 ₩3,812

-11.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$3.22 ₩4,884

13.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$1.72 ₩2,616

-4.07%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$2.22 ₩3,368

-26.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$1.87 ₩2,839

-36.36%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$2.85 ₩4,332

-29.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$10.44 ₩15.8K

53.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$8.04 ₩12.2K

-62.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$27.63 ₩42.0K

-60.69%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$7.20 ₩10.9K

-61.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$3.27 ₩4,961

-63.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$7.40 ₩11.2K

-77.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$4.46 ₩6,771

-65.92%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$3.62 ₩5,500

-61.88%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$2.40 ₩3,647

-50.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$2.12 ₩3,222

-66.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$0.86 ₩1,310

-34.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$3.38 ₩5,126

35.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

$16.60 ₩25.2K

-0.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

$1.77 ₩2,682

3.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

$3.35 ₩5,082

-4.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$0.95 ₩1,438

-7.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$2.44 ₩3,702

-44.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$0.80 ₩1,221

67.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$16.43 ₩24.9K

-52.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$1.16 ₩1,763

6.03%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$27.7K ₩42.0M

-21.87%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$25.4K ₩38.6M

-11.26%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$191 ₩290.5K

-63.13%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$49.57 ₩75.3K

-72.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$27.85 ₩42.3K

-37.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$58.0 ₩88.1K

-28.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$10.32 ₩15.7K

-44.09%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$254 ₩386.3K

20.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$13.9K ₩21.1M

5.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$101 ₩153.3K

-44.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$47.62 ₩72.3K

-44.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$88.0 ₩133.6K

-2.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$120 ₩181.5K

-39.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$272 ₩413.5K

57.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$369 ₩560.9K

-35.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$1,056 ₩1.6M

-22.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$753 ₩1.1M

-32.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

$3,895 ₩5.9M

-49.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

$2,396 ₩3.6M

-38.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

$1,974 ₩3.0M

-68.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

25.00%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Last update for Ulsan: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $272 in Ulsan. 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 219% higher in Ulsan, 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 $29.00 in Ulsan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $403 – 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 Ulsan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ulsan costs about 66% 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 $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,160 in Ulsan. 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $29.00 in Ulsan. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 67% more in Ulsan, 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 $869, than in Ulsan at $1,440. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ulsan it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $869 versus $1,440 in Ulsan. 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, Ulsan makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.