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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $657 per month in Jiaxing vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,095 per month in Jiaxing vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,533 per month in Jiaxing vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Jiaxing is about 24% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Jiaxing and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Jiaxing 51% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jiaxing
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.86 ¥19.35
$1.94 ฿63.6
47.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.78 ¥141
$18.64 ฿609
11.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.86 ¥32.89
$7.82 ฿256
-37.85%
Cappuccino
$3.20 ¥21.64
$1.95 ฿63.9
64.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45 ¥3.03
$0.85 ฿27.80
-47.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26 ¥1.77
$0.35 ฿11.60
-25.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.68 ¥4.63
$2.13 ฿69.7
-68.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79 ¥12.10
$3.73 ฿122
-52.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jiaxing
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.34 ¥15.85
$1.71 ฿56.0
36.84%
White Bread (500g)
$1.94 ¥13.10
$1.63 ฿53.3
19.02%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.53 ¥3.61
$1.14 ฿37.18
-53.51%
Eggs
$1.53 ¥10.35
$1.93 ฿63.2
-20.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.99 ¥47.31
$16.21 ฿530
-56.88%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.74 ¥18.56
$3.12 ฿102
-12.18%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.02 ¥61.0
$10.90 ฿356
-17.25%
Apples (1kg)
$1.62 ¥10.96
$2.75 ฿90.1
-41.09%
Banana (1kg)
$1.27 ¥8.60
$1.21 ฿39.56
4.96%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.18 ¥7.99
$1.62 ฿53.0
-27.16%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.14 ¥7.68
$1.59 ฿51.9
-28.30%
Potato (1kg)
$0.59 ¥4.01
$1.40 ฿45.75
-57.86%
Onion (1kg)
$0.96 ¥6.48
$1.17 ฿38.20
-17.95%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.80 ¥5.40
$0.66 ฿21.62
21.21%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ¥3.82
$0.53 ฿17.24
5.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.57 ¥24.17
$4.69 ฿153
-23.88%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.03 ¥74.6
$18.66 ฿610
-40.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.69 ¥4.64
$1.80 ฿58.8
-61.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 ¥9.98
$3.23 ฿106
-54.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Jiaxing
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 ¥1.97
$0.90 ฿29.28
-67.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.41 ¥104
$19.21 ฿628
-19.78%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.13 ¥7.62
$1.41 ฿45.96
-19.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.38 ¥2.57
$1.29 ฿42.16
-70.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.76 ¥45.77
$7.84 ฿256
-13.78%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.12 ¥7.58
$1.27 ฿41.62
-11.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.8K ¥113.6K
$21.3K ฿695.5K
-21.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$14.5K ¥98.2K
$22.2K ฿726.1K
-34.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jiaxing
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$34.35 ¥233
$69.1 ฿2,258
-50.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.13 ¥75.3
$14.08 ฿460
-20.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$4.76 ¥32.23
$18.00 ฿588
-73.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jiaxing
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.36 ¥233
$41.06 ฿1,342
-16.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.14 ¥48.31
$6.96 ฿227
2.59%
Cinema Ticket
$5.44 ¥36.81
$5.92 ฿193
-8.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jiaxing
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$401 ¥2,715
$299 ฿9,775
34.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.7K ¥79.0K
$15.0K ฿488.8K
-21.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jiaxing
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.33 ¥293
$54.7 ฿1,788
-20.79%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.67 ¥221
$26.77 ฿875
22.04%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$69.0 ¥467
$85.0 ฿2,778
-18.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.6 ¥559
$70.6 ฿2,308
17.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jiaxing
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$267 ¥1,810
$428 ฿14.0K
-37.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$169 ¥1,147
$237 ฿7,759
-28.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$711 ¥4,810
$801 ฿26.2K
-11.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$418 ¥2,830
$515 ฿16.9K
-18.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,230 ¥28.6K
$1,975 ฿64.5K
114.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,959 ¥13.3K
$1,475 ฿48.2K
32.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jiaxing
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$825 ¥5,586
$617 ฿20.2K
33.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.87
5
-22.60%

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

Last update for Jiaxing: June 1, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $267 in Jiaxing versus $428 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 34% higher in Jiaxing, 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 $21.00 in Jiaxing versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $181 in Jiaxing vs $246 in Chiang Mai – so Jiaxing 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
Jiaxing vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Jiaxing or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 32% more than Jiaxing, 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 Jiaxing vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $985 per month in Jiaxing and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Jiaxing or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Jiaxing, 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 Jiaxing and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $401 per month in Jiaxing 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 Jiaxing or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 36% 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 Jiaxing or Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $657 in Jiaxing and $866 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Jiaxing or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Jiaxing costs $657 versus $866 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Jiaxing 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 Jiaxing or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Jiaxing. 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.

Jiaxing vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities