Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Xuzhou

For one person, living is cheaper in Xuzhou: $596 a month against $938 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $4,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$938
/mo nomad
Xuzhou
🇨🇳 China
$596
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

A single person spends $938 per month in Chiang Mai vs $596 in Xuzhou, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $938
  • Xuzhou $596

A couple spends around $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai vs $971 in Xuzhou, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,426
  • Xuzhou $971

A family of three spends $1,914 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,346 in Xuzhou, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,914
  • Xuzhou $1,346

Chiang Mai costs about 57% more than Xuzhou, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Xuzhou are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 30% lower, Xuzhou 56% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Xuzhou
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.26 ฿75.8
$2.28 ¥15.22
-0.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.18 ฿644
$13.94 ¥93.3
37.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.59 ฿188
$4.79 ¥32.00
16.70%
Cappuccino
$1.72 ฿57.9
$2.29 ¥15.33
-24.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 ฿21.65
$0.48 ¥3.24
33.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ฿11.24
$0.27 ¥1.82
22.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.36 ฿79.1
$1.45 ¥9.71
62.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.90 ฿131
$1.52 ¥10.14
156.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Xuzhou
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.05 ฿69.0
$1.95 ¥13.02
5.13%
White Bread (500g)
$1.40 ฿46.94
$2.15 ¥14.35
-34.88%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.28 ฿43.11
$0.58 ¥3.90
120.69%
Eggs
$2.25 ฿75.6
$1.17 ¥7.84
92.31%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.94 ฿569
$10.43 ¥69.7
62.42%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.74 ฿92.1
$1.47 ¥9.83
86.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.36 ฿314
$8.01 ¥53.6
16.85%
Apples (1kg)
$2.40 ฿80.7
$1.89 ¥12.66
26.98%
Banana (1kg)
$1.01 ฿34.09
$1.08 ¥7.22
-6.48%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.61 ฿54.2
$0.93 ¥6.22
73.12%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.52 ฿51.0
$0.95 ¥6.35
60.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 ฿43.12
$0.54 ¥3.64
137.04%
Onion (1kg)
$1.11 ฿37.41
$0.70 ¥4.66
58.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿24.21
$0.64 ¥4.28
12.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.63
$0.44 ¥2.96
18.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.33 ฿145
$3.03 ¥20.25
42.90%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.73 ฿596
$5.95 ¥39.76
197.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 ฿54.7
$0.46 ¥3.08
254.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85 ฿95.8
$0.92 ¥6.16
209.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Xuzhou
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.85 ฿28.45
$0.29 ¥1.92
193.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.9 ฿1,811
$17.28 ¥116
211.92%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.17 ฿39.38
$1.41 ¥9.41
-17.02%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.57 ฿19.09
$0.35 ¥2.37
62.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.37 ฿79.6
$9.05 ¥60.5
-73.81%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.56
$1.17 ¥7.84
23.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.5K ฿687.8K
$18.1K ¥121.3K
12.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K ฿890.6K
$15.1K ¥100.7K
76.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Xuzhou
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.3 ฿2,094
$46.71 ¥312
33.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.27 ฿412
$7.83 ¥52.4
56.70%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.97 ฿671
$3.65 ¥24.41
447.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Xuzhou
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.91 ฿1,274
$41.24 ¥276
-8.07%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.76 ฿126
$14.39 ¥96.2
-73.87%
Cinema Ticket
$6.71 ฿225
$5.28 ¥35.34
27.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Xuzhou
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$797 ฿26.8K
$415 ¥2,775
92.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿498.2K
$22.0K ¥147.3K
-32.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Xuzhou
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.3 ฿1,789
$29.70 ¥199
79.29%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.05 ฿841
$22.15 ¥148
13.09%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.6 ฿3,077
$45.25 ¥303
102.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.5 ฿2,468
$53.3 ¥356
37.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Xuzhou
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$464 ฿15.6K
$222 ¥1,483
109.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$305 ฿10.2K
$161 ¥1,079
88.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$915 ฿30.7K
$455 ¥3,045
101.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$552 ฿18.6K
$378 ¥2,527
46.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,912 ฿64.2K
$2,171 ¥14.5K
-11.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,438 ฿48.3K
$1,677 ¥11.2K
-14.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Xuzhou
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$595 ฿20.0K
$937 ¥6,264
-36.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
3.42
62.87%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 13, 2026

Last update for Xuzhou: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$305
Xuzhou
$161 47% $143
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$238
Xuzhou
$162 31.9% $76
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$110
Xuzhou
$68 38.2% $42
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$95
Xuzhou
$58 38.5% $36
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$79
Xuzhou
$73 7.1% $5.6
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$61
Xuzhou
$22 64.8% $40
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$51
Xuzhou
$52 0.9% $0.5

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $464 in Chiang Mai versus $222 in Xuzhou. 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 57% higher in Xuzhou, 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $14.00 in Xuzhou. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $238 vs $162 – making Xuzhou the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇨🇳 Xuzhou
🕒 Local time
15:55 3:55 PM
16:55 4:55 PM
1 h ahead of Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
9,083,790
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

CNY, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 15, 2026: 1 USD = 33.59 THB (100 THB = 2.98 USD). 1 EUR = 37.61 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Chinese Yuan exchange rates as of October 15, 2026: 1 USD = 6.69 CNY (1 CNY = 0.15 USD). 1 EUR = 7.49 CNY (1 CNY = 0.134 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Mai Xuzhou 2,490 km ≈ 3 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • Xuzhou

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 Xuzhou: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Xuzhou?
Chiang Mai costs about 57% more than Xuzhou, 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai and in Xuzhou?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,408 per month in Chiang Mai and $894 in Xuzhou. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Xuzhou?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Xuzhou, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Xuzhou?
Kindergarten costs $797 per month in Chiang Mai and $415 in Xuzhou. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or in Xuzhou?
Groceries cost about 47% 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.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Chiang Mai or in Xuzhou?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Xuzhou, where all-in costs run around $596, than in Chiang Mai at $938. In Xuzhou it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Xuzhou?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Xuzhou costs $596 versus $938 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Xuzhou?
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.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or to Xuzhou?
If budget matters most, go with Xuzhou. 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.

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