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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,211 per month in Hirakata vs $920 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,892 per month in Hirakata vs $1,408 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,573 per month in Hirakata vs $1,895 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Hirakata costs about 32% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Hirakata and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Hirakata 12% lower, Chiang Mai 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.43 ¥1,339

$2.11 ฿69.1

299.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.50 ¥5,005

$19.75 ฿648

59.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.96 ¥788

$5.85 ฿192

-15.21%

Cappuccino

$2.99 ¥476

$1.76 ฿57.8

69.89%

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

$1.28 ¥204

$0.74 ฿24.37

72.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 ¥117

$0.33 ฿10.90

124.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.15 ¥501

$2.47 ฿81.0

27.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.87 ¥615

$3.88 ฿127

-0.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 ¥232

$1.90 ฿62.4

-23.16%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 ¥207

$1.67 ฿54.7

-22.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.81 ¥923

$1.35 ฿44.24

330.37%

Eggs

$2.05 ¥326

$2.14 ฿70.2

-4.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.82 ¥1,561

$15.89 ฿521

-38.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.72 ¥1,067

$2.83 ฿92.9

137.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.21 ¥2,735

$10.53 ฿345

63.44%

Apples (1kg)

$3.36 ¥534

$2.38 ฿78.2

41.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 ¥306

$1.07 ฿35.01

79.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.18 ¥506

$1.52 ฿49.79

109.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.09 ¥650

$1.50 ฿49.30

172.67%

Potato (1kg)

$3.99 ¥634

$1.28 ฿41.96

211.72%

Onion (1kg)

$3.86 ¥613

$1.10 ฿36.17

250.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.32 ¥209

$0.69 ฿22.54

91.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 ¥148

$0.49 ฿16.18

89.80%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.93 ¥624

$4.27 ฿140

-7.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.14 ¥1,453

$16.78 ฿550

-45.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.60 ¥412

$1.66 ฿54.4

56.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.11 ¥493

$2.81 ฿92.3

10.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.47 ¥234

$0.90 ฿29.44

63.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$50.8 ¥8,063

$54.9 ฿1,801

-7.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.19 ¥507

$1.20 ฿39.24

165.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.78 ¥442

$0.54 ฿17.78

414.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.94 ¥2,533

$2.37 ฿77.9

572.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 ¥174

$1.43 ฿46.88

-23.78%

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

$21.3K ¥3.4M

$21.1K ฿691.5K

0.86%

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

$15.2K ¥2.4M

$27.1K ฿890.2K

-44.12%

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

$114 ¥18.1K

$64.7 ฿2,124

75.55%

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

$23.30 ¥3,702

$13.19 ฿433

76.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.00 ¥4,766

$19.44 ฿638

54.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.6 ¥8,191

$39.45 ฿1,294

30.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.21 ¥986

$3.77 ฿124

64.72%

Cinema Ticket

$11.43 ¥1,816

$6.62 ฿217

72.66%

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

$512 ¥81.3K

$805 ฿26.4K

-36.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.7K ¥2.0M

$15.1K ฿496.1K

-15.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.42 ¥6,581

$54.8 ฿1,796

-24.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.15 ¥4,314

$25.43 ฿834

6.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.0 ¥9,539

$91.9 ฿3,015

-34.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.9 ¥14.3K

$74.7 ฿2,449

20.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$525 ¥83.4K

$467 ฿15.3K

12.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$321 ¥51.0K

$282 ฿9,251

13.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,142 ¥181.5K

$891 ฿29.2K

28.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$735 ¥116.7K

$521 ฿17.1K

40.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,862 ¥613.7K

$1,985 ฿65.1K

94.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,176 ¥345.7K

$1,462 ฿48.0K

48.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,870 ¥297.1K

$592 ฿19.4K

215.81%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.02

5.57

-63.73%

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

Last update for Hirakata: August 17, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 17, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $525 in Hirakata versus $467 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 216% higher in Hirakata, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Hirakata versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $309 vs $237 – making Chiang Mai 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

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

Hirakata costs about 32% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,816 per month in Hirakata and $1,380 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $512 per month in Hirakata and $805 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 30% more in Hirakata, 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 Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $920, than in Hirakata at $1,211. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Hirakata it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $920 versus $1,211 in Hirakata. 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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Hirakata makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.