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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 68.3% more expensive than Urumqi without rent, and 60.6% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 55.6% more expensive than Urumqi without rent, and 61% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Urumqi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.03 ฿64.2
$3.43 ¥23.76
-40.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.59 ฿588
$19.78 ¥137
-6.02%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.48 ฿237
$5.37 ¥37.16
39.29%
Cappuccino
$2.00 ฿63.2
$2.99 ¥20.71
-33.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 ฿26.81
$0.43 ¥2.95
97.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.13
$0.22 ¥1.52
59.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ฿70.0
$1.13 ¥7.84
95.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.76 ฿119
$2.68 ¥18.52
40.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Urumqi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 ฿54.4
$1.04 ¥7.21
65.38%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 ฿51.7
$0.81 ¥5.61
101.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 ฿36.66
$0.36 ¥2.52
222.22%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿62.6
$1.52 ¥10.55
30.26%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.93 ฿504
$5.60 ¥38.76
184.46%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 ฿100
$2.04 ¥14.12
55.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.90 ฿345
$10.17 ¥70.4
7.18%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 ฿83.7
$1.78 ¥12.33
48.88%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿38.70
$1.12 ¥7.78
8.93%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.70 ฿53.7
$1.37 ¥9.45
24.09%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 ฿50.3
$0.54 ¥3.70
194.44%
Potato (1kg)
$1.32 ฿41.90
$0.41 ¥2.82
221.95%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ฿36.99
$0.81 ¥5.60
44.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ฿21.46
$0.69 ¥4.76
-1.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿17.64
$0.54 ¥3.74
3.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.51 ฿143
$2.28 ¥15.80
97.81%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.07 ฿604
$9.95 ¥68.9
91.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 ฿56.0
$1.03 ¥7.13
71.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 ฿101
$1.77 ¥12.25
79.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Urumqi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.96 ฿30.47
$0.15 ¥1.05
540.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.90 ฿598
$14.02 ¥97.0
34.81%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ฿42.98
$1.35 ¥9.34
0.74%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿42.80
$0.35 ¥2.45
285.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.03 ฿254
$7.85 ¥54.4
2.29%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 ฿39.34
$1.09 ¥7.51
13.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿669.8K
$22.7K ¥157.0K
-6.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿688.5K
$19.5K ¥134.8K
11.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Urumqi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$71.2 ฿2,255
$42.49 ¥294
67.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.09 ฿446
$5.35 ¥37.05
163.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.47 ฿553
$14.08 ¥97.4
24.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Urumqi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.07 ฿1,332
$13.79 ¥95.4
205.08%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88 ฿218
$8.35 ¥57.8
-17.60%
Cinema Ticket
$5.94 ฿188
$4.98 ¥34.47
19.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Urumqi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$307 ฿9,728
$165 ¥1,143
86.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿468.2K
$7,577 ¥52.4K
95.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Urumqi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.7 ฿1,762
$28.17 ¥195
97.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.79 ฿848
$13.74 ¥95.1
94.98%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.2 ฿2,634
$88.6 ¥613
-6.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.1 ฿2,219
$27.58 ¥191
154.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Urumqi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$427 ฿13.5K
$239 ¥1,656
78.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$237 ฿7,504
$114 ¥785
108.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$802 ฿25.4K
$406 ¥2,813
97.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$503 ฿15.9K
$211 ¥1,460
138.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,061 ฿65.2K
$1,948 ¥13.5K
5.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,533 ฿48.5K
$1,158 ¥8,011
32.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Urumqi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$654 ฿20.7K
$1,108 ¥7,668
-41.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
3
66.67%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: March 1, 2026

Last update for Urumqi: March 3, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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