Cost of Living Comparison Between Harbin and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Harbin and Chiang Mai

🙂 Solo nomad: Harbin is 3.6% cheaper than Chiang Mai without rent, and 1.7% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Harbin is 15.9% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 3.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Harbin
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.81 ¥20.13
$2.02 ฿65.3
39.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.29 ¥153
$18.78 ฿608
13.37%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.26 ¥37.74
$7.67 ฿248
-31.42%
Cappuccino
$2.67 ¥19.13
$1.98 ฿64.2
34.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45 ¥3.2
$0.82 ฿26.64
-45.12%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 ¥1.92
$0.33 ฿10.58
-18.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.89 ¥6.38
$2.12 ฿68.6
-58.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 ¥12.35
$3.73 ฿121
-53.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Harbin
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.87 ¥13.39
$1.64 ฿53.2
14.02%
White Bread (500g)
$1.89 ¥13.57
$1.57 ฿50.9
20.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.95 ¥6.84
$1.19 ฿38.62
-20.17%
Eggs
$1.28 ¥9.21
$1.98 ฿64.1
-35.35%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.41 ¥74.7
$15.99 ฿517
-34.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.66 ¥26.27
$3.12 ฿101
17.31%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.87 ¥78
$11.16 ฿361
-2.60%
Apples (1kg)
$2.52 ¥18.09
$2.76 ฿89.2
-8.70%
Banana (1kg)
$1.74 ¥12.49
$1.22 ฿39.5
42.62%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.43 ¥17.43
$1.71 ฿55.4
42.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.05 ¥7.54
$1.55 ฿50.2
-32.26%
Potato (1kg)
$0.78 ¥5.57
$1.34 ฿43.21
-41.79%
Onion (1kg)
$1.77 ¥12.7
$1.21 ฿39.23
46.28%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.37 ¥2.63
$0.72 ฿23.2
-48.61%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73 ¥5.27
$0.53 ฿17.05
37.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.43 ¥17.44
$4.72 ฿153
-48.52%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.82 ¥84.8
$18.39 ฿595
-35.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.59 ¥4.21
$1.79 ฿57.9
-67.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36 ¥16.92
$3.21 ฿104
-26.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Harbin
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 ¥1.92
$0.94 ฿30.44
-71.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.7 ¥76.7
$18.9 ฿612
-43.39%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.28 ¥9.18
$1.42 ฿46.08
-9.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 ¥2.53
$1.35 ฿43.53
-74.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.57 ¥68.7
$7.85 ฿254
21.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 ¥8.31
$1.25 ฿40.4
-7.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$13.8K ¥99.2K
$21.2K ฿684.9K
-34.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$12.5K ¥89.6K
$21.8K ฿706.8K
-42.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Harbin
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$56 ¥401
$70.6 ฿2,285
-20.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.71 ¥98.3
$13.72 ฿444
-0.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.73 ¥113
$17.56 ฿568
-10.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Harbin
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$95 ¥682
$41.64 ฿1,347
128.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.68 ¥199
$6.9 ฿223
301.16%
Cinema Ticket
$5.47 ¥39.24
$5.8 ฿188
-5.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Harbin
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$229 ¥1,643
$308 ฿9,963
-25.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.7K ¥76.4K
$14.7K ฿475.8K
-27.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Harbin
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.6 ¥499
$55.4 ฿1,793
25.60%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.6 ¥212
$26.4 ฿854
12.12%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.1 ¥553
$85.1 ฿2,755
-9.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$153 ¥1,101
$71.8 ฿2,323
113.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Harbin
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$302 ¥2,166
$434 ฿14K
-30.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$224 ¥1,606
$235 ฿7,610
-4.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,322 ¥9,479
$821 ฿26.6K
60.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$481 ¥3,452
$498 ฿16.1K
-3.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,974 ¥21.3K
$2,180 ฿70.6K
36.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,271 ¥9,119
$1,543 ฿49.9K
-17.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Harbin
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$870 ¥6,240
$703 ฿22.8K
23.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.79
5
15.80%

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

Last update for Harbin: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

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