Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Heze and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Heze: $694 a month against $938 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $2,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Heze
🇨🇳 China
$694
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$938
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Heze and in Chiang Mai

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Heze and in Chiang Mai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $694 per month in Heze vs $938 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Heze $694
  • Chiang Mai $938

A couple spends around $1,076 per month in Heze vs $1,426 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Heze $1,076
  • Chiang Mai $1,426

A family of three spends $1,458 per month in Heze vs $1,914 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Heze $1,458
  • Chiang Mai $1,914

Heze is about 26% cheaper than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Heze and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Heze 49% lower, Chiang Mai 30% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Heze
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.57 ¥17.19
$2.26 ฿75.8
13.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.85 ¥72.5
$19.18 ฿644
-43.43%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.80 ¥32.10
$5.59 ฿188
-14.13%
Cappuccino
$2.57 ¥17.18
$1.72 ฿57.9
49.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 ¥3.09
$0.64 ฿21.65
-28.13%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21 ¥1.40
$0.33 ฿11.24
-36.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.88 ¥5.89
$2.36 ฿79.1
-62.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 ¥13.70
$3.90 ฿131
-47.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Heze
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 ¥9.64
$2.05 ฿69.0
-29.76%
White Bread (500g)
$1.47 ¥9.85
$1.40 ฿46.94
5.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.23 ¥8.23
$1.28 ฿43.11
-3.91%
Eggs
$1.06 ¥7.09
$2.25 ฿75.6
-52.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.66 ¥78.0
$16.94 ฿569
-31.17%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.35 ¥22.37
$2.74 ฿92.1
22.26%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.26 ¥75.3
$9.36 ฿314
20.30%
Apples (1kg)
$1.42 ¥9.47
$2.40 ฿80.7
-40.83%
Banana (1kg)
$1.02 ¥6.81
$1.01 ฿34.09
0.99%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.37 ¥9.14
$1.61 ฿54.2
-14.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.10 ¥7.38
$1.52 ฿51.0
-27.63%
Potato (1kg)
$0.57 ¥3.81
$1.28 ฿43.12
-55.47%
Onion (1kg)
$0.72 ¥4.82
$1.11 ฿37.41
-35.14%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.58 ¥3.86
$0.72 ฿24.21
-19.44%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.62 ¥4.13
$0.52 ฿17.63
19.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.78 ¥25.27
$4.33 ฿145
-12.70%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.93 ¥66.4
$17.73 ฿596
-43.99%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.68 ¥4.52
$1.63 ฿54.7
-58.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 ¥8.73
$2.85 ฿95.8
-54.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Heze
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.31 ¥2.05
$0.85 ฿28.45
-63.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.56 ¥131
$53.9 ฿1,811
-63.71%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.02 ¥6.82
$1.17 ฿39.38
-12.82%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.27 ¥1.81
$0.57 ฿19.09
-52.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.58 ¥30.62
$2.37 ฿79.6
93.25%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 ¥6.32
$1.45 ฿48.56
-35.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.6K ¥130.9K
$20.5K ฿687.8K
-4.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$14.8K ¥98.9K
$26.5K ฿890.6K
-44.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Heze
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.8 ¥493
$62.3 ฿2,094
18.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.86 ¥45.89
$12.27 ฿412
-44.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$5.25 ¥35.09
$19.97 ฿671
-73.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Heze
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.78 ¥299
$37.91 ฿1,274
18.12%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.66 ¥111
$3.76 ฿126
343.09%
Cinema Ticket
$5.17 ¥34.57
$6.71 ฿225
-22.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Heze
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$219 ¥1,468
$797 ฿26.8K
-72.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$19.9K ¥132.8K
$14.8K ฿498.2K
33.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Heze
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$34.41 ¥230
$53.3 ฿1,789
-35.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.30 ¥283
$25.05 ฿841
68.86%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$58.8 ¥393
$91.6 ฿3,077
-35.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$51.8 ¥346
$73.5 ฿2,468
-29.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Heze
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$302 ¥2,017
$464 ฿15.6K
-35.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$182 ¥1,219
$305 ฿10.2K
-40.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$622 ¥4,157
$915 ฿30.7K
-32.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$369 ¥2,470
$552 ฿18.6K
-33.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,496 ¥23.4K
$1,912 ฿64.2K
82.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,956 ¥13.1K
$1,438 ฿48.3K
36.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Heze
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$602 ¥4,025
$595 ฿20.0K
1.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.13
5.57
-43.81%

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

Last update for Heze: October 13, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Heze
$187
Chiang Mai
$238 27.5% $51
Accommodation & Living
Heze
$182
Chiang Mai
$305 67.1% $122
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Heze
$86
Chiang Mai
$95 10.1% $8.7
Clothing & Footwear
Heze
$84
Chiang Mai
$110 29.9% $25
Eating Out
Heze
$77
Chiang Mai
$79 2.7% $2.1
Sport & Entertainment
Heze
$55
Chiang Mai
$51 6.9% $3.8
Getting Around
Heze
$23
Chiang Mai
$61 165% $38

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $302 in Heze versus $464 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 1% higher in Heze, 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 $11.00 in Heze versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $187 vs $238 – making Heze the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇳 Heze
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
14:04 2:04 PM
13:04 1:04 PM
1 h behind Heze
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
8,795,939
127,240
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to CNY – Chinese Yuan Converter

Chinese Yuan exchange rates as of October 15, 2026: 1 USD = 6.69 CNY (1 CNY = 0.15 USD). 1 EUR = 7.49 CNY (1 CNY = 0.134 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 15, 2026: 1 USD = 33.59 THB (100 THB = 2.98 USD). 1 EUR = 37.61 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Heze Chiang Mai 2,440 km ≈ 3 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Heze
  • Chiang Mai

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Heze vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Heze or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 35% more than Heze, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. 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 Heze and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,042 per month in Heze and $1,408 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Heze or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Heze, 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 Heze and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $219 per month in Heze and $797 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 Heze or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 27% 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 $2,000/month in Heze or in Chiang Mai?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Heze, where all-in costs run around $694, than in Chiang Mai at $938. In Heze it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Heze or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Heze costs $694 versus $938 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Heze 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 Heze or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Heze. 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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