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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,027 per month in Okayama vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,676 per month in Okayama vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,325 per month in Okayama vs $1,855 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Okayama costs about 18% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Okayama and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Okayama 24% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.08 ¥1,132

$1.98 ฿64.3

257.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.29 ¥4,365

$18.80 ฿612

45.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.02 ¥963

$7.75 ฿252

-22.32%

Cappuccino

$1.86 ¥297

$1.92 ฿62.5

-3.12%

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

$0.74 ¥118

$0.79 ฿25.79

-6.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 ¥115

$0.36 ฿11.62

100.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.05 ¥328

$2.21 ฿72.1

-7.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 ¥331

$3.66 ฿119

-43.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.50 ¥239

$1.65 ฿53.8

-9.09%

White Bread (500g)

$0.70 ¥112

$1.63 ฿53.2

-57.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.91 ¥786

$1.19 ฿38.86

312.61%

Eggs

$1.63 ¥260

$2.00 ฿65.1

-18.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.89 ¥2,701

$15.98 ฿520

5.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.84 ¥1,093

$3.03 ฿98.5

125.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.62 ¥2,499

$10.86 ฿354

43.83%

Apples (1kg)

$5.49 ¥878

$2.76 ฿90.0

98.91%

Banana (1kg)

$2.76 ¥442

$1.18 ฿38.42

133.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.82 ¥771

$1.64 ฿53.5

193.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.78 ¥765

$1.52 ฿49.51

214.47%

Potato (1kg)

$2.37 ¥379

$1.38 ฿45.10

71.74%

Onion (1kg)

$2.10 ¥335

$1.19 ฿38.84

76.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.37 ¥220

$0.70 ฿22.86

95.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 ¥127

$0.56 ฿18.13

41.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.40 ¥544

$4.58 ฿149

-25.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.61 ¥1,537

$16.56 ฿539

-41.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.11 ¥338

$1.83 ฿59.5

15.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 ¥324

$3.20 ฿104

-36.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.65 ¥264

$0.88 ฿28.56

87.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$56.2 ¥8,990

$18.72 ฿610

200.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.38 ¥540

$1.36 ฿44.16

148.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.70 ¥432

$1.34 ฿43.65

101.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.41 ¥3,745

$7.84 ฿256

198.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 ¥174

$1.23 ฿39.92

-11.38%

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

$23.4K ¥3.7M

$21.6K ฿704.3K

7.99%

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

$17.0K ¥2.7M

$22.5K ฿734.3K

-24.41%

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

$79.6 ¥12.7K

$70.5 ฿2,298

12.89%

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

$15.12 ¥2,418

$13.68 ฿445

10.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.01 ¥4,479

$17.45 ฿568

60.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.6 ¥8,894

$41.33 ฿1,346

34.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.12 ¥2,258

$6.96 ฿227

102.87%

Cinema Ticket

$12.28 ¥1,965

$5.77 ฿188

112.82%

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

$471 ¥75.3K

$307 ฿10.0K

53.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.2K ¥1.8M

$14.6K ฿475.9K

-23.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.24 ¥7,396

$55.8 ฿1,817

-17.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.76 ¥5,079

$26.21 ฿854

21.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$56.4 ¥9,015

$85.8 ฿2,793

-34.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.9 ¥14.7K

$72.2 ฿2,353

27.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$366 ¥58.5K

$430 ฿14.0K

-14.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$208 ¥33.3K

$239 ฿7,774

-12.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$722 ¥115.5K

$817 ฿26.6K

-11.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$461 ¥73.7K

$511 ฿16.6K

-9.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,385 ¥221.5K

$619 ฿20.2K

123.75%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.78

-64.40%

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

Last update for Okayama: June 8, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $366 in Okayama 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 124% higher in Okayama, 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 $27.00 in Okayama versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $327 vs $241 – 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

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

Okayama costs about 18% 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 $1,541 per month in Okayama and $1,303 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 $471 per month in Okayama and $307 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 36% more in Okayama, 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 $869, than in Okayama at $1,027. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Okayama it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $869 versus $1,027 in Okayama. 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, Okayama makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.