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

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $776 per month in Hefei vs $947 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,235 per month in Hefei vs $1,411 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,694 per month in Hefei vs $1,874 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Hefei is about 18% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Hefei and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Hefei 43% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.46 ¥16.48

$2.08 ฿68.5

18.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.01 ¥148

$19.64 ฿646

12.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.51 ¥30.25

$5.65 ฿186

-20.18%

Cappuccino

$2.71 ¥18.13

$1.81 ฿59.3

49.72%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.53 ¥3.53

$0.71 ฿23.44

-25.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 ¥1.95

$0.32 ฿10.38

-9.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.02 ¥6.81

$2.24 ฿73.5

-54.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 ¥13.75

$3.63 ฿119

-43.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 ¥10.85

$1.96 ฿64.4

-17.35%

White Bread (500g)

$1.95 ¥13.04

$1.50 ฿49.38

30.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.80 ¥5.38

$1.34 ฿43.92

-40.30%

Eggs

$1.83 ¥12.25

$2.26 ฿74.4

-19.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.89 ¥93.1

$16.26 ฿534

-14.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.91 ¥32.93

$2.95 ฿97.1

66.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.58 ¥77.6

$9.94 ฿327

16.50%

Apples (1kg)

$2.22 ¥14.89

$2.57 ฿84.5

-13.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.67 ¥11.19

$1.06 ฿34.72

57.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ¥11.46

$1.61 ฿53.0

6.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ¥10.23

$1.52 ฿49.96

0.66%

Potato (1kg)

$0.82 ¥5.52

$1.27 ฿41.76

-35.43%

Onion (1kg)

$0.92 ¥6.18

$1.07 ฿35.05

-14.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 ¥5.68

$0.72 ฿23.67

18.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 ¥4.67

$0.51 ฿16.72

37.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.03 ¥20.29

$4.19 ฿138

-27.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.86 ¥79.5

$17.87 ฿587

-33.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 ¥6.16

$1.69 ฿55.7

-45.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 ¥13.19

$2.84 ฿93.2

-30.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 ¥1.93

$0.93 ฿30.42

-68.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$45.35 ¥304

$53.9 ฿1,770

-15.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ¥7.87

$1.23 ฿40.58

-4.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.31 ¥2.11

$0.58 ฿18.96

-46.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.47 ¥23.26

$2.42 ฿79.7

43.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ¥8.27

$1.41 ฿46.42

-12.77%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$19.2K ¥128.5K

$21.4K ฿704.9K

-10.60%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$16.7K ¥112.2K

$27.3K ฿898.5K

-38.73%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$49.41 ¥331

$63.7 ฿2,093

-22.40%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.12 ¥61.1

$12.85 ฿423

-29.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.74 ¥78.7

$20.22 ฿665

-41.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.74 ¥105

$38.74 ฿1,274

-59.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.29 ¥102

$3.97 ฿130

285.14%

Cinema Ticket

$6.20 ¥41.53

$6.74 ฿221

-8.01%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$244 ¥1,636

$778 ฿25.6K

-68.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,710 ¥58.4K

$14.6K ฿480.2K

-40.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.8 ¥602

$54.3 ฿1,785

65.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.55 ¥218

$25.45 ฿836

27.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.2 ¥424

$94.3 ฿3,101

-32.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$94.8 ¥635

$73.4 ฿2,414

29.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$247 ¥1,655

$490 ฿16.1K

-49.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$182 ¥1,220

$289 ฿9,510

-37.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$545 ¥3,654

$894 ฿29.4K

-38.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$334 ¥2,236

$517 ฿17.0K

-35.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,509 ¥23.5K

$1,955 ฿64.3K

79.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,939 ¥13.0K

$1,477 ฿48.5K

31.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,014 ¥6,796

$602 ฿19.8K

68.42%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.15

5.57

-43.45%

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

Last update for Hefei: August 31, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $247 in Hefei versus $490 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 68% higher in Hefei, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $22.00 in Hefei versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $231 in Hefei vs $240 in Chiang Mai – so Hefei 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

Hefei vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 22% more than Hefei, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,165 per month in Hefei and $1,421 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Hefei, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $244 per month in Hefei and $778 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 4% 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.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Hefei, where all-in costs run around $776, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Hefei it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Hefei costs $776 versus $947 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Hefei. 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.