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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $608 per month in Linyi vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,012 per month in Linyi vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,417 per month in Linyi vs $1,855 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Linyi is about 30% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Linyi and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Linyi 55% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Linyi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.74 ¥25.28
$1.98 ฿64.3
88.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.76 ¥208
$18.80 ฿612
63.62%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.09 ¥41.18
$7.75 ฿252
-21.42%
Cappuccino
$3.13 ¥21.19
$1.92 ฿62.5
63.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61 ¥4.12
$0.79 ฿25.79
-22.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25 ¥1.67
$0.36 ฿11.62
-30.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.09 ¥7.39
$2.21 ฿72.1
-50.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 ¥13.78
$3.66 ฿119
-44.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Linyi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 ¥11.59
$1.65 ฿53.8
3.64%
White Bread (500g)
$1.54 ¥10.40
$1.63 ฿53.2
-5.52%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.39 ¥2.63
$1.19 ฿38.86
-67.23%
Eggs
$1.22 ¥8.28
$2.00 ฿65.1
-39.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.69 ¥85.8
$15.98 ฿520
-20.59%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.13 ¥21.15
$3.03 ฿98.5
3.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.56 ¥78.2
$10.86 ฿354
6.45%
Apples (1kg)
$1.02 ¥6.93
$2.76 ฿90.0
-63.04%
Banana (1kg)
$0.96 ¥6.47
$1.18 ฿38.42
-18.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.82 ¥5.57
$1.64 ฿53.5
-50.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.13 ¥7.63
$1.52 ฿49.51
-25.66%
Potato (1kg)
$0.73 ¥4.95
$1.38 ฿45.10
-47.10%
Onion (1kg)
$0.36 ¥2.45
$1.19 ฿38.84
-69.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.56 ¥3.78
$0.70 ฿22.86
-20.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.62 ¥4.17
$0.56 ฿18.13
10.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.16 ¥21.37
$4.58 ฿149
-31.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.02 ¥67.8
$16.56 ฿539
-39.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.57 ¥3.86
$1.83 ฿59.5
-68.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.24 ¥8.37
$3.20 ฿104
-61.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Linyi
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 ¥1.97
$0.88 ฿28.56
-67.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$16.51 ¥112
$18.72 ฿610
-11.81%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.38 ¥9.31
$1.36 ฿44.16
1.47%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 ¥2.40
$1.34 ฿43.65
-73.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.70 ¥45.28
$7.84 ฿256
-14.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 ¥7.35
$1.23 ฿39.92
-11.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$13.8K ¥93.6K
$21.6K ฿704.3K
-36.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.7K ¥112.9K
$22.5K ฿734.3K
-25.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Linyi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$46.39 ¥314
$70.5 ฿2,298
-34.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.76 ¥66.0
$13.68 ฿445
-28.65%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.35 ¥76.7
$17.45 ฿568
-34.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Linyi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$17.90 ¥121
$41.33 ฿1,346
-56.69%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.06 ¥95.1
$6.96 ฿227
102.01%
Cinema Ticket
$6.29 ¥42.56
$5.77 ฿188
9.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Linyi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$198 ¥1,341
$307 ฿10.0K
-35.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,177 ¥41.8K
$14.6K ฿475.9K
-57.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Linyi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.5 ¥470
$55.8 ฿1,817
24.48%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.77 ¥168
$26.21 ฿854
-5.49%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.9 ¥513
$85.8 ฿2,793
-11.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.9 ¥500
$72.2 ฿2,353
2.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Linyi
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$154 ¥1,039
$430 ฿14.0K
-64.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$90.8 ¥614
$239 ฿7,774
-61.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$314 ¥2,120
$817 ฿26.6K
-61.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$224 ¥1,518
$511 ฿16.6K
-56.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,983 ฿64.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,049 ¥7,091
$1,484 ฿48.3K
-29.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Linyi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$810 ¥5,477
$619 ฿20.2K
30.89%
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 Linyi: June 9, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $154 in Linyi versus $430 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 31% higher in Linyi, 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 $31.00 in Linyi versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $185 in Linyi vs $241 in Chiang Mai – so Linyi 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
Linyi vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Linyi or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 43% more than Linyi, 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 Linyi vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $911 per month in Linyi and $1,303 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Linyi or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Linyi, 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 Linyi and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $198 per month in Linyi and $307 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 Linyi or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 30% 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 Linyi or Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $608 in Linyi and $869 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Linyi or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Linyi costs $608 versus $869 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Linyi 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 Linyi or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Linyi. 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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