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 $788 per month in Miaoli vs $950 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,105 per month in Miaoli vs $1,430 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,423 per month in Miaoli vs $1,909 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Miaoli is about 17% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Miaoli and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Miaoli 43% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.61 NT$82.5

$2.10 ฿69.3

24.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.16 NT$764

$19.84 ฿656

21.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.80 NT$152

$5.79 ฿191

-17.10%

Cappuccino

$3.06 NT$96.9

$1.83 ฿60.4

67.21%

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

$0.88 NT$27.84

$0.78 ฿25.61

12.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.58 NT$18.39

$0.31 ฿10.37

87.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.26 NT$39.72

$2.34 ฿77.2

-46.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.32 NT$41.84

$3.70 ฿122

-64.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.86 NT$90.3

$2.03 ฿67.1

40.89%

White Bread (500g)

$1.22 NT$38.51

$1.60 ฿52.7

-23.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.60 NT$82.4

$1.42 ฿46.75

83.10%

Eggs

$2.22 NT$70.2

$2.18 ฿71.9

1.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.55 NT$302

$15.91 ฿526

-39.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.59 NT$240

$3.07 ฿102

147.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$21.61 NT$684

$9.87 ฿326

118.95%

Apples (1kg)

$3.88 NT$123

$2.63 ฿86.8

47.53%

Banana (1kg)

$2.08 NT$65.7

$1.10 ฿36.19

89.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.02 NT$95.6

$1.63 ฿53.8

85.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.06 NT$96.8

$1.53 ฿50.6

100.00%

Potato (1kg)

$2.60 NT$82.2

$1.24 ฿41.13

109.68%

Onion (1kg)

$1.95 NT$61.8

$1.13 ฿37.37

72.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.41 NT$76.1

$0.74 ฿24.38

225.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 NT$27.58

$0.50 ฿16.48

74.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.98 NT$126

$4.28 ฿141

-7.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.94 NT$346

$17.97 ฿594

-39.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 NT$46.15

$1.70 ฿56.1

-14.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 NT$69.2

$2.90 ฿95.7

-24.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.80 NT$88.7

$1.23 ฿40.76

127.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.76 NT$24.03

$0.53 ฿17.66

43.40%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.19 NT$227

$2.40 ฿79.3

199.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.00 NT$31.66

$1.44 ฿47.55

-30.56%

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

$33.3K NT$1.1M

$21.2K ฿700.2K

57.35%

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

$24.4K NT$772.0K

$27.3K ฿902.1K

-10.60%

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

$70.0 NT$2,215

$64.9 ฿2,145

7.85%

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

$18.28 NT$578

$13.35 ฿441

36.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.95 NT$694

$20.83 ฿688

5.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$10.90 NT$345

$6.71 ฿222

62.44%

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

$521 NT$16.5K

$787 ฿26.0K

-33.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$32.3K NT$1.0M

$15.1K ฿499.6K

113.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$12.91 NT$408

$56.2 ฿1,858

-77.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.01 NT$791

$24.95 ฿824

0.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.5 NT$1,977

$92.7 ฿3,063

-32.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$97.5 NT$3,082

$75.1 ฿2,482

29.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$220 NT$6,968

$484 ฿16.0K

-54.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$161 NT$5,094

$287 ฿9,491

-43.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,543 NT$80.4K

$605 ฿20.0K

320.18%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.18

5.57

-60.86%

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

Last update for Miaoli: September 6, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $220 in Miaoli versus $484 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 320% higher in Miaoli, 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 Miaoli versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $316 vs $242 – 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

Chiang Mai costs about 21% more than Miaoli, 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 $1,182 per month in Miaoli and $1,426 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Miaoli, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $24.00 in Miaoli and $20.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 30% cheaper in Chiang Mai – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Miaoli, where all-in costs run around $788, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Miaoli it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Miaoli costs $788 versus $950 in Chiang Mai. 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 Miaoli. 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.