Cost of Living Comparison Between Hai Duong and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Hai Duong and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $731 per month in Hai Duong vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,119 per month in Hai Duong vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,508 per month in Hai Duong vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Hai Duong is about 14% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Hai Duong and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Hai Duong 45% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hai Duong
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96 ₫51.3K
$1.96 ฿64.0
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.39 ₫561.2K
$18.81 ฿615
13.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.32 ₫113.3K
$7.92 ฿259
-45.45%
Cappuccino
$1.63 ₫42.7K
$1.91 ฿62.6
-14.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51 ₫13.3K
$0.84 ฿27.41
-39.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28 ₫7,325
$0.35 ฿11.51
-20.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.92 ₫24.2K
$2.21 ฿72.1
-58.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 ₫41.0K
$3.80 ฿124
-58.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hai Duong
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 ₫37.7K
$1.64 ฿53.5
-12.20%
White Bread (500g)
$0.97 ₫25.5K
$1.62 ฿53.1
-40.12%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.93 ₫24.4K
$1.18 ฿38.62
-21.19%
Eggs
$1.42 ₫37.2K
$2.01 ฿65.8
-29.35%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.84 ₫310.7K
$15.89 ฿520
-25.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.64 ₫95.5K
$3.01 ฿98.5
20.93%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.69 ₫254.2K
$10.77 ฿352
-10.03%
Apples (1kg)
$2.64 ₫69.3K
$2.61 ฿85.5
1.15%
Banana (1kg)
$1.01 ₫26.5K
$1.22 ฿39.88
-17.21%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.29 ₫33.8K
$1.70 ฿55.7
-24.12%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.12 ₫29.4K
$1.58 ฿51.5
-29.11%
Potato (1kg)
$1.02 ₫26.9K
$1.32 ฿43.14
-22.73%
Onion (1kg)
$1.05 ₫27.7K
$1.17 ฿38.23
-10.26%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.58 ₫15.2K
$0.67 ฿21.98
-13.43%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ₫13.5K
$0.56 ฿18.32
-8.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.32 ₫34.8K
$4.53 ฿148
-70.86%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.73 ₫281.5K
$18.20 ฿595
-41.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.76 ₫19.9K
$1.83 ฿60.0
-58.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60 ₫41.9K
$3.23 ฿106
-50.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Hai Duong
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.31 ₫8,236
$0.89 ฿29.00
-65.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$6.35 ₫166.6K
$19.38 ฿634
-67.23%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.73 ₫19.2K
$1.35 ฿44.20
-45.93%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.62 ₫16.3K
$1.35 ฿44.05
-54.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.86 ₫75.1K
$8.25 ฿270
-65.33%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.91 ₫23.9K
$1.27 ฿41.64
-28.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4K ₫903.5M
$21.2K ฿691.8K
62.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.0K ₫840.1M
$22.5K ฿735.3K
42.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hai Duong
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$74.9 ₫2.0M
$70.2 ฿2,294
6.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.97 ₫156.5K
$13.77 ฿450
-56.64%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.81 ₫231.1K
$17.60 ฿575
-49.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hai Duong
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$21.46 ₫563.1K
$41.57 ฿1,360
-48.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.69 ₫201.8K
$6.60 ฿216
16.52%
Cinema Ticket
$3.12 ₫81.8K
$5.78 ฿189
-46.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hai Duong
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$263 ₫6.9M
$306 ฿10.0K
-14.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.8K ₫308.8M
$14.8K ฿484.8K
-20.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hai Duong
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.28 ₫1.1M
$54.4 ฿1,778
-24.08%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.99 ₫603.1K
$26.14 ฿855
-12.05%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.3 ₫2.2M
$84.5 ฿2,764
0.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.4 ₫2.0M
$69.4 ฿2,270
7.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hai Duong
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$363 ₫9.5M
$424 ฿13.9K
-14.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$247 ₫6.5M
$238 ฿7,788
3.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$673 ₫17.7M
$825 ฿27.0K
-18.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$467 ₫12.2M
$515 ฿16.8K
-9.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,378 ₫88.6M
$2,049 ฿67.0K
64.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,541 ₫40.4M
$1,523 ฿49.8K
1.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hai Duong
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$635 ฿20.8K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.1
5
82.00%

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

Last update for Hai Duong: April 28, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $363 in Hai Duong versus $424 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 $21.00 in Hai Duong versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $188 in Hai Duong vs $243 in Chiang Mai – so Hai Duong 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
Hai Duong vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Hai Duong or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 17% more than Hai Duong, 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 Hai Duong vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,096 per month in Hai Duong and $1,278 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Hai Duong or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Hai Duong, 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 Hai Duong and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $263 per month in Hai Duong and $306 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 Hai Duong or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 29% 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 Hai Duong or Chiang Mai?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $731 in Hai Duong and $852 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Hai Duong or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Hai Duong costs $731 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 Hai Duong 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 Hai Duong or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Hai Duong. 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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