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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $899 per month in Miaoli vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,651 per month in Miaoli vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,404 per month in Miaoli vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Miaoli costs about 4% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Miaoli and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Miaoli 33% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.49 NT$110

$1.94 ฿63.5

79.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.88 NT$815

$18.64 ฿609

38.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.03 NT$158

$7.82 ฿255

-35.68%

Cappuccino

$2.84 NT$89.3

$1.95 ฿63.8

45.64%

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

$1.11 NT$34.88

$0.85 ฿27.77

30.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 NT$21.86

$0.35 ฿11.58

97.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.71 NT$53.7

$2.13 ฿69.6

-19.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.59 NT$81.4

$3.73 ฿122

-30.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.10 NT$97.5

$1.71 ฿56.0

81.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.45 NT$45.58

$1.63 ฿53.2

-11.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.52 NT$79.4

$1.14 ฿37.15

121.05%

Eggs

$2.29 NT$71.9

$1.93 ฿63.1

18.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.25 NT$291

$16.21 ฿530

-42.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.14 NT$256

$3.12 ฿102

160.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.58 NT$648

$10.90 ฿356

88.81%

Apples (1kg)

$3.33 NT$105

$2.75 ฿90.0

21.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 NT$32.67

$1.21 ฿39.52

-14.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.71 NT$85.2

$1.62 ฿53.0

67.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.05 NT$95.9

$1.59 ฿51.8

91.82%

Potato (1kg)

$2.39 NT$75.4

$1.40 ฿45.70

70.71%

Onion (1kg)

$1.90 NT$59.7

$1.17 ฿38.17

62.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 NT$90.4

$0.66 ฿21.60

334.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 NT$29.16

$0.53 ฿17.22

75.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.46 NT$203

$4.69 ฿153

37.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.19 NT$352

$18.66 ฿609

-40.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 NT$58.3

$1.80 ฿58.8

2.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 NT$74.5

$3.23 ฿106

-26.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 NT$27.54

$0.90 ฿29.26

-3.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.63 NT$1,247

$19.21 ฿628

106.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.00 NT$94.3

$1.41 ฿45.91

112.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.73 NT$22.84

$1.29 ฿42.12

-43.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 NT$260

$7.84 ฿256

5.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.07 NT$33.64

$1.27 ฿41.58

-15.75%

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

$36.6K NT$1.2M

$21.3K ฿694.9K

72.01%

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

$26.2K NT$823.6K

$22.2K ฿725.4K

17.79%

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

$64.4 NT$2,027

$69.1 ฿2,256

-6.76%

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

$28.45 NT$895

$14.08 ฿460

102.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.94 NT$596

$18.00 ฿588

5.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.89 NT$1,161

$41.06 ฿1,341

-10.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.01 NT$473

$6.96 ฿227

115.66%

Cinema Ticket

$10.21 NT$321

$5.92 ฿193

72.47%

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

$566 NT$17.8K

$299 ฿9,766

89.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.4K NT$958.1K

$15.0K ฿488.3K

103.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.72 NT$999

$54.7 ฿1,787

-42.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.77 NT$748

$26.77 ฿874

-11.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.8 NT$2,166

$85.0 ฿2,776

-19.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 NT$3,233

$70.6 ฿2,306

45.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$345 NT$10.9K

$428 ฿14.0K

-19.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$168 NT$5,279

$237 ฿7,752

-29.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,039 NT$32.7K

$801 ฿26.2K

29.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 NT$23.0K

$515 ฿16.8K

41.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,471 NT$77.8K

$617 ฿20.2K

300.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-60.00%

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

Last update for Miaoli: June 2, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $345 in Miaoli 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 300% higher in Miaoli, 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 $26.00 in Miaoli versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $314 vs $246 – 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

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

Miaoli costs about 4% 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 $1,349 per month in Miaoli and $1,300 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 $566 per month in Miaoli and $299 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 27% more in Miaoli, 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 $866, than in Miaoli at $899. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Miaoli it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $899 in Miaoli. 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, Miaoli makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.