🙂A single person spends $710 per month in Chifeng vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,136 per month in Chifeng vs $1,360 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,562 per month in Chifeng vs $1,867 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Chifeng is about 17% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Chifeng and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Chifeng47% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chifeng
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.74¥18.54
$2.04฿68.4
34.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.96¥148
$18.71฿626
17.37%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.94¥33.36
$7.86฿263
-37.15%
Cappuccino
$3.04¥20.50
$2.03฿67.9
49.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43¥2.93
$0.80฿26.71
-46.25%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29¥1.97
$0.35฿11.71
-17.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.93¥6.30
$2.14฿71.7
-56.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15¥14.49
$3.67฿123
-41.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chifeng
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.80¥12.13
$1.73฿57.8
4.05%
White Bread(500g)
$1.61¥10.91
$1.57฿52.5
2.55%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.95¥6.41
$1.20฿40.10
-20.83%
Eggs
$1.52¥10.30
$1.97฿66.0
-22.84%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.90¥87.2
$16.23฿543
-20.52%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.12¥21.07
$3.06฿102
1.96%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.18¥68.8
$10.80฿361
-5.74%
Apples(1kg)
$1.79¥12.07
$2.77฿92.6
-35.38%
Banana(1kg)
$1.25¥8.41
$1.17฿39.05
6.84%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.49¥10.07
$1.71฿57.1
-12.87%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.15¥7.79
$1.59฿53.3
-27.67%
Potato(1kg)
$0.70¥4.70
$1.39฿46.63
-49.64%
Onion(1kg)
$0.89¥6.04
$1.16฿38.67
-23.28%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.55¥3.74
$0.66฿22.11
-16.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55¥3.70
$0.52฿17.35
5.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.20¥21.62
$4.65฿155
-31.18%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.62¥71.8
$17.78฿595
-40.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.78¥5.30
$1.79฿59.8
-56.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58¥10.68
$3.34฿112
-52.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Chifeng
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.29¥1.98
$0.91฿30.35
-68.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.52¥112
$18.64฿624
-11.37%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.36¥9.16
$1.41฿47.17
-3.55%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.36¥2.40
$1.34฿44.82
-73.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.83¥46.10
$8.11฿271
-15.78%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.16¥7.86
$1.23฿41.27
-5.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.8K¥133.7K
$21.4K฿717.0K
-7.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.2K¥116.4K
$21.8K฿730.0K
-21.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chifeng
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$45.17¥305
$71.3฿2,386
-36.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.89¥66.8
$14.01฿469
-29.41%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.88¥80.3
$17.93฿600
-33.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chifeng
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.26¥279
$40.82฿1,365
1.08%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.06¥94.9
$6.88฿230
104.36%
Cinema Ticket
$6.08¥41.05
$5.72฿191
6.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chifeng
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$332¥2,241
$308฿10.3K
7.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.0K¥114.8K
$14.7K฿491.0K
15.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chifeng
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.22¥292
$55.8฿1,865
-22.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.57¥206
$26.04฿871
17.40%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$70.6¥477
$84.8฿2,837
-16.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.3¥495
$71.0฿2,375
3.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chifeng
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$280¥1,890
$423฿14.2K
-33.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$189¥1,279
$242฿8,110
-21.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$603¥4,072
$797฿26.7K
-24.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$362¥2,448
$507฿17.0K
-28.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,041¥20.5K
$1,918฿64.2K
58.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,990¥13.4K
$1,464฿49.0K
35.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chifeng
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$595฿19.9K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.89
5
-22.20%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chifeng: July 25, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $280 in Chifeng versus $423 in Chiang Mai. 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 $22.00 in Chifeng versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $198 in Chifeng vs $244 in Chiang Mai – so Chifeng 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
Chifeng vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chifeng or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 20% more than Chifeng, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 Chifeng and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,066 per month in Chifeng and $1,279 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chifeng or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chifeng, 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 Chifeng and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $332 per month in Chifeng and $308 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chifeng or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 23% 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 Chifeng or in Chiang Mai?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $710 in Chifeng and $852 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chifeng or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chifeng costs $710 versus $852 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chifeng compared to Chiang Mai?
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 Chifeng or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chifeng. 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.