ðA single person spends $677 per month in Hanzhong vs $872 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
ðA couple spends around $1,059 per month in Hanzhong vs $1,337 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
ðA family of three spends $1,440 per month in Hanzhong vs $1,802 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
ðHanzhong is about 22% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
ðBoth Hanzhong and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median â Hanzhong50% lower, Chiang Mai35% lower.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Hanzhong
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.87ÂĨ19.62
$2.01āļŋ64.5
42.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.19ÂĨ124
$18.23āļŋ584
-0.22%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.31ÂĨ36.26
$7.65āļŋ245
-30.59%
Cappuccino
$3.27ÂĨ22.35
$1.92āļŋ61.5
70.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37ÂĨ2.51
$0.84āļŋ26.96
-55.95%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.22ÂĨ1.50
$0.36āļŋ11.42
-38.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.09ÂĨ7.43
$2.19āļŋ70.2
-50.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77ÂĨ12.12
$3.79āļŋ121
-53.30%
ð Groceries & Markets
Hanzhong
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.49ÂĨ10.17
$1.64āļŋ52.5
-9.15%
White Bread(500g)
$1.61ÂĨ10.99
$1.62āļŋ51.9
-0.62%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.87ÂĨ5.95
$1.15āļŋ36.96
-24.35%
Eggs
$1.69ÂĨ11.54
$1.94āļŋ62.1
-12.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.86ÂĨ46.86
$15.94āļŋ511
-56.96%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.03ÂĨ13.84
$3.10āļŋ99.4
-34.52%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.79ÂĨ60.0
$11.07āļŋ355
-20.60%
Apples(1kg)
$1.58ÂĨ10.78
$2.71āļŋ86.7
-41.70%
Banana(1kg)
$1.19ÂĨ8.12
$1.18āļŋ37.77
0.85%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.27ÂĨ8.68
$1.71āļŋ54.6
-25.73%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.81ÂĨ5.55
$1.61āļŋ51.4
-49.69%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71ÂĨ4.83
$1.39āļŋ44.63
-48.92%
Onion(1kg)
$0.60ÂĨ4.09
$1.15āļŋ36.78
-47.83%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.51ÂĨ3.46
$0.71āļŋ22.81
-28.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55ÂĨ3.77
$0.55āļŋ17.63
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.87ÂĨ19.59
$4.57āļŋ146
-37.20%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.67ÂĨ59.2
$18.87āļŋ605
-54.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.77ÂĨ5.28
$1.82āļŋ58.3
-57.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73ÂĨ11.80
$3.21āļŋ103
-46.11%
ð Getting Around
Hanzhong
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.29ÂĨ2.01
$0.88āļŋ28.23
-67.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.46ÂĨ112
$18.89āļŋ605
-12.86%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.40ÂĨ9.53
$1.41āļŋ45.27
-0.71%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35ÂĨ2.40
$1.30āļŋ41.68
-73.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.24ÂĨ28.96
$8.20āļŋ263
-48.29%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.16ÂĨ7.95
$1.23āļŋ39.27
-5.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.6KÂĨ140.9K
$21.2Kāļŋ678.5K
-2.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.9KÂĨ108.8K
$22.3Kāļŋ714.9K
-28.61%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hanzhong
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$38.43ÂĨ262
$69.9āļŋ2,239
-45.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.45ÂĨ37.19
$14.07āļŋ451
-61.27%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.87ÂĨ81.1
$17.70āļŋ567
-32.94%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Hanzhong
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.00ÂĨ287
$41.41āļŋ1,327
1.42%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.12ÂĨ96.4
$6.69āļŋ214
111.06%
Cinema Ticket
$4.73ÂĨ32.33
$5.74āļŋ184
-17.60%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Hanzhong
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$336ÂĨ2,294
$299āļŋ9,587
12.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.1KÂĨ123.6K
$15.0Kāļŋ480.9K
20.57%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Hanzhong
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.7ÂĨ380
$54.8āļŋ1,756
1.51%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.69ÂĨ251
$26.35āļŋ844
39.24%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$68.8ÂĨ470
$84.7āļŋ2,712
-18.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.4ÂĨ474
$69.7āļŋ2,234
-0.53%
ð Accommodation & Living
Hanzhong
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$280ÂĨ1,911
$427āļŋ13.7K
-34.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$189ÂĨ1,291
$241āļŋ7,713
-21.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$601ÂĨ4,105
$811āļŋ26.0K
-25.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$358ÂĨ2,446
$498āļŋ16.0K
-28.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,078ÂĨ21.0K
$2,022āļŋ64.8K
52.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,956ÂĨ13.4K
$1,524āļŋ48.8K
28.36%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Hanzhong
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$584ÂĨ3,989
$639āļŋ20.5K
-8.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.1
5
-38.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hanzhong: April 12, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A central one-bedroom costs $280 in Hanzhong versus $427 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.
ð°Salaries run about 9% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
ðA mid-range dinner for two costs $18 in Hanzhong versus $18 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $159 vs $246 â making Hanzhong 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
Hanzhong vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Hanzhong or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 29% more than Hanzhong, 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 Hanzhong vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,016 per month in Hanzhong and $1,308 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled â not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Hanzhong or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Hanzhong, 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 Hanzhong and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $336 per month in Hanzhong and $299 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 Hanzhong or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 55% 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 $800/month in Hanzhong or Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably â all-in costs are $677 in Hanzhong and $872 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Hanzhong or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Hanzhong costs $677 versus $872 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Hanzhong 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 â central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Hanzhong or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Hanzhong. 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.