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 $595 per month in Linyi vs $932 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $950 per month in Linyi vs $1,399 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,305 per month in Linyi vs $1,866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Linyi is about 36% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Linyi and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Linyi 57% lower, Chiang Mai 32% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Linyi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.35 ¥15.73
$2.08 ฿69.5
12.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.11 ¥161
$19.61 ฿655
22.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.07 ¥33.94
$5.67 ฿189
-10.58%
Cappuccino
$2.46 ¥16.48
$1.81 ฿60.3
35.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44 ¥2.96
$0.77 ฿25.65
-42.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21 ¥1.40
$0.35 ฿11.53
-40.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.87 ¥5.80
$2.21 ฿73.9
-60.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 ¥13.57
$3.79 ฿127
-46.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Linyi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.58 ¥10.56
$2.05 ฿68.4
-22.93%
White Bread (500g)
$1.39 ¥9.31
$1.51 ฿50.6
-7.95%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.42 ¥2.81
$1.40 ฿46.69
-70.00%
Eggs
$1.18 ¥7.92
$2.26 ฿75.4
-47.79%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.18 ¥61.5
$16.19 ฿540
-43.30%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$1.77 ¥11.82
$2.90 ฿96.7
-38.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.27 ¥75.5
$9.42 ฿314
19.64%
Apples (1kg)
$1.13 ¥7.56
$2.68 ฿89.4
-57.84%
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 ¥7.14
$1.09 ฿36.37
-1.83%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.00 ¥6.72
$1.62 ฿54.0
-38.27%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.93 ¥6.25
$1.46 ฿48.74
-36.30%
Potato (1kg)
$0.46 ¥3.10
$1.28 ฿42.65
-64.06%
Onion (1kg)
$0.41 ¥2.75
$1.06 ฿35.31
-61.32%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.56 ¥3.77
$0.72 ฿23.94
-22.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67 ¥4.48
$0.53 ฿17.56
26.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.50 ¥30.15
$4.23 ฿141
6.38%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.78 ¥65.5
$18.29 ฿611
-46.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.71 ¥4.77
$1.63 ฿54.4
-56.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 ¥8.75
$2.90 ฿96.8
-54.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Linyi
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 ¥1.92
$0.88 ฿29.32
-67.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$53.8 ฿1,795
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.07 ¥7.14
$1.17 ฿39.14
-8.55%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.29 ¥1.93
$0.58 ฿19.30
-50.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.34 ¥29.04
$2.39 ฿79.6
81.59%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.10 ¥7.39
$1.45 ฿48.41
-24.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.7K ¥111.8K
$21.0K ฿701.4K
-20.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$14.6K ¥97.8K
$26.4K ฿882.0K
-44.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Linyi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$71.3 ¥477
$63.7 ฿2,125
11.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.77 ¥31.92
$12.89 ฿430
-62.99%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$5.12 ¥34.31
$20.52 ฿685
-75.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Linyi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.7 ¥359
$39.02 ฿1,302
37.52%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.70 ¥172
$3.92 ฿131
555.61%
Cinema Ticket
$5.11 ¥34.24
$6.58 ฿220
-22.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Linyi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$216 ¥1,448
$784 ฿26.2K
-72.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.4K ¥69.5K
$14.7K ฿489.8K
-29.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Linyi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$22.70 ¥152
$55.1 ฿1,840
-58.81%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.04 ¥148
$24.74 ฿826
-10.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.7 ¥480
$94.1 ฿3,142
-23.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$68.3 ¥458
$74.0 ฿2,469
-7.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Linyi
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$210 ¥1,410
$490 ฿16.4K
-57.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$113 ¥755
$288 ฿9,620
-60.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$499 ¥3,344
$891 ฿29.8K
-43.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$205 ¥1,374
$521 ฿17.4K
-60.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,516 ¥10.2K
$1,974 ฿65.9K
-23.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$999 ¥6,689
$1,444 ฿48.2K
-30.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Linyi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$779 ¥5,216
$602 ฿20.1K
29.46%
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 Linyi: September 14, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $210 in Linyi versus $490 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 29% 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 $24.00 in Linyi versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $165 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 57% 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 and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $892 per month in Linyi and $1,398 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 dining costs compare in Linyi and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $24.00 in Linyi and $20.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Linyi or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 46% 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 $1,000/month in Linyi or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Linyi, where all-in costs run around $595, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Linyi 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, Linyi or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Linyi costs $595 versus $932 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 to 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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