😐A single person spends $1,265 per month in Fukui vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,932 per month in Fukui vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,598 per month in Fukui vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Fukui costs about 47% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Fukui and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Fukui5% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Fukui
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.13¥1,159
$1.96฿65.8
263.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.31¥5,574
$18.35฿617
86.98%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.48¥890
$7.48฿252
-26.74%
Cappuccino
$3.16¥513
$2.02฿67.8
56.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06¥172
$0.85฿28.50
24.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74¥121
$0.36฿11.96
105.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.62¥426
$2.14฿71.8
22.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.04¥493
$3.59฿121
-15.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Fukui
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.60¥260
$1.65฿55.5
-3.03%
White Bread(500g)
$1.59¥258
$1.57฿52.7
1.27%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.87¥792
$1.19฿40.02
309.24%
Eggs
$2.22¥360
$1.94฿65.1
14.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.91¥1,610
$16.19฿544
-38.79%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.43¥1,045
$2.99฿101
115.05%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.26¥2,480
$10.94฿368
39.49%
Apples(1kg)
$5.25¥852
$2.71฿91.2
93.73%
Banana(1kg)
$2.56¥415
$1.17฿39.25
118.80%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.13¥671
$1.69฿56.7
144.38%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.80¥942
$1.60฿54.0
262.50%
Potato(1kg)
$3.02¥490
$1.38฿46.54
118.84%
Onion(1kg)
$2.66¥433
$1.20฿40.45
121.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39¥226
$0.67฿22.50
107.46%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90¥146
$0.56฿18.73
60.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.82¥620
$4.64฿156
-17.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.12¥994
$17.62฿593
-65.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84¥300
$1.86฿62.5
-1.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15¥349
$3.30฿111
-34.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Fukui
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.65¥268
$0.88฿29.68
87.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$54.9¥8,919
$19.34฿650
183.82%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.51¥570
$1.36฿45.90
158.09%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.89¥469
$1.34฿44.98
115.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$20.86¥3,389
$8.21฿276
154.08%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.22¥199
$1.22฿41.18
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.1K¥3.8M
$21.4K฿718.1K
8.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.2K¥2.8M
$22.5K฿757.7K
-23.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fukui
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$145¥23.5K
$70.7฿2,376
104.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.60¥4,484
$14.04฿472
96.58%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.56¥5,615
$17.49฿588
97.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Fukui
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$56.4¥9,155
$42.15฿1,417
33.69%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.94¥2,264
$6.88฿231
102.62%
Cinema Ticket
$12.65¥2,055
$5.92฿199
113.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Fukui
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$282¥45.8K
$309฿10.4K
-8.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.3K¥2.2M
$14.9K฿500.4K
-10.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Fukui
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.53¥6,910
$55.8฿1,875
-23.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.65¥4,817
$26.11฿878
13.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$58.9¥9,564
$83.0฿2,792
-29.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.5¥14.9K
$70.5฿2,369
29.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Fukui
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$470¥76.4K
$432฿14.5K
8.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$333¥54.0K
$239฿8,035
39.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$883¥143.4K
$822฿27.7K
7.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$666¥108.2K
$512฿17.2K
30.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,260¥692.2K
$1,915฿64.4K
122.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,008¥326.3K
$1,467฿49.3K
36.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Fukui
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,887¥306.6K
$579฿19.5K
225.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
1.78
5
-64.40%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Fukui: July 14, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $470 in Fukui versus $432 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.
💰Salaries run about 226% higher in Fukui, 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 $34.00 in Fukui versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $311 vs $243 – 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
Fukui vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Fukui or Chiang Mai?
Fukui costs about 47% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Fukui and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,898 per month in Fukui and $1,292 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Fukui or Chiang Mai?
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.
How do childcare costs compare in Fukui and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $282 per month in Fukui and $309 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 Fukui or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 28% more in Fukui, 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 Fukui or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $861, than in Fukui at $1,265. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Fukui it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Fukui or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $861 versus $1,265 in Fukui. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Fukui 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 Fukui or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Fukui makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.