Cost of Living Comparison Between Kunming, Yunnan and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Kunming, Yunnan and Chiang Mai

😐 Solo nomad: Kunming, Yunnan is 9.5% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 5.2% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Kunming, Yunnan is 0.9% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 7.8% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kunming, Yunnan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.73 ¥19.6
$2.02 ฿65.3
35.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.92 ¥200
$18.78 ฿608
48.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.07 ¥50.7
$7.67 ฿248
-7.82%
Cappuccino
$3.01 ¥21.57
$1.98 ฿64.2
52.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 ¥3.32
$0.82 ฿26.64
-43.90%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25 ¥1.78
$0.33 ฿10.58
-24.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.35 ¥9.69
$2.12 ฿68.6
-36.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 ¥14.6
$3.73 ฿121
-45.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kunming, Yunnan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.99 ¥14.3
$1.64 ฿53.2
21.34%
White Bread (500g)
$1.69 ¥12.1
$1.57 ฿50.9
7.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.28 ¥9.22
$1.19 ฿38.62
7.56%
Eggs
$1.77 ¥12.69
$1.98 ฿64.1
-10.61%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.78 ¥48.63
$15.99 ฿517
-57.60%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.2 ¥30.16
$3.12 ฿101
34.62%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.97 ¥78.7
$11.16 ฿361
-1.70%
Apples (1kg)
$1.27 ¥9.1
$2.76 ฿89.2
-53.99%
Banana (1kg)
$0.97 ¥6.97
$1.22 ฿39.5
-20.49%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.36 ¥9.79
$1.71 ฿55.4
-20.47%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.1 ¥7.86
$1.55 ฿50.2
-29.03%
Potato (1kg)
$0.34 ¥2.43
$1.34 ฿43.21
-74.63%
Onion (1kg)
$0.86 ¥6.15
$1.21 ฿39.23
-28.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.58 ¥11.3
$0.72 ฿23.2
119.44%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63 ¥4.5
$0.53 ฿17.05
18.87%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.05 ¥14.7
$4.72 ฿153
-56.57%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.21 ¥44.52
$18.39 ฿595
-66.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 ¥5.15
$1.79 ฿57.9
-59.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 ¥10.82
$3.21 ฿104
-52.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Kunming, Yunnan
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.62 ¥4.44
$0.94 ฿30.44
-34.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$34.53 ¥248
$18.9 ฿612
82.70%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.13 ¥8.11
$1.42 ฿46.08
-20.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.26 ¥1.86
$1.35 ฿43.53
-80.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14 ¥100
$7.85 ฿254
78.34%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.12 ¥8.05
$1.25 ฿40.4
-10.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.5K ¥147.1K
$21.2K ฿684.9K
-3.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.2K ¥123.5K
$21.8K ฿706.8K
-21.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kunming, Yunnan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$50.5 ¥362
$70.6 ฿2,285
-28.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.33 ¥110
$13.72 ฿444
11.73%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.36 ¥117
$17.56 ฿568
-6.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kunming, Yunnan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$68.7 ¥493
$41.64 ฿1,347
65.08%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.55 ¥190
$6.9 ฿223
284.78%
Cinema Ticket
$6.36 ¥45.61
$5.8 ฿188
9.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kunming, Yunnan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$420 ¥3,010
$308 ฿9,963
36.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13K ¥93.3K
$14.7K ฿475.8K
-11.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kunming, Yunnan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.2 ¥496
$55.4 ฿1,793
24.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.41 ¥240
$26.4 ฿854
26.55%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$63.1 ¥453
$85.1 ฿2,755
-25.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104 ¥748
$71.8 ฿2,323
45.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kunming, Yunnan
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$282 ¥2,026
$434 ฿14K
-34.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$210 ¥1,508
$235 ฿7,610
-10.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$505 ¥3,626
$821 ฿26.6K
-38.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$349 ¥2,504
$498 ฿16.1K
-29.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,306 ¥23.7K
$2,180 ฿70.6K
51.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,358 ¥9,739
$1,543 ฿49.9K
-12.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kunming, Yunnan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$818 ¥5,864
$703 ฿22.8K
16.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.45
5
-11.00%

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

Last update for Kunming, Yunnan: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

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