Cost of Living Comparison Between Qingdao, Shandong and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Qingdao, Shandong and Chiang Mai

🙂 Solo nomad: Qingdao, Shandong is 4.9% cheaper than Chiang Mai without rent, and 12.4% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Qingdao, Shandong is 2.5% cheaper than Chiang Mai without rent, and 6.4% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Qingdao, Shandong
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.41 ¥24.46
$2.02 ฿65.3
68.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.17 ¥130
$18.78 ฿608
-3.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.52 ¥32.4
$7.67 ฿248
-41.07%
Cappuccino
$3.42 ¥24.52
$1.98 ฿64.2
72.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58 ¥4.14
$0.82 ฿26.64
-29.27%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ¥2.23
$0.33 ฿10.58
-6.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.87 ¥6.24
$2.12 ฿68.6
-58.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 ¥14.54
$3.73 ฿121
-45.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Qingdao, Shandong
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.95 ¥14
$1.64 ฿53.2
18.90%
White Bread (500g)
$1.52 ¥10.9
$1.57 ฿50.9
-3.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.92 ¥6.59
$1.19 ฿38.62
-22.69%
Eggs
$1.89 ¥13.55
$1.98 ฿64.1
-4.55%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.68 ¥105
$15.99 ฿517
-8.19%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.23 ¥30.37
$3.12 ฿101
35.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.18 ¥73
$11.16 ฿361
-8.78%
Apples (1kg)
$1.37 ¥9.8
$2.76 ฿89.2
-50.36%
Banana (1kg)
$1.15 ¥8.26
$1.22 ฿39.5
-5.74%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.91 ¥13.71
$1.71 ฿55.4
11.70%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.01 ¥7.27
$1.55 ฿50.2
-34.84%
Potato (1kg)
$0.75 ¥5.36
$1.34 ฿43.21
-44.03%
Onion (1kg)
$1.09 ¥7.79
$1.21 ฿39.23
-9.92%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.94 ¥6.72
$0.72 ฿23.2
30.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.47 ¥3.37
$0.53 ฿17.05
-11.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.98 ¥28.54
$4.72 ฿153
-15.68%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.84 ¥99.3
$18.39 ฿595
-24.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.04 ¥7.44
$1.79 ฿57.9
-41.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58 ¥11.32
$3.21 ฿104
-50.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Qingdao, Shandong
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.3 ¥2.17
$0.94 ฿30.44
-68.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$16.62 ¥119
$18.9 ฿612
-12.06%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.43 ¥10.24
$1.42 ฿46.08
0.70%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.32 ¥2.27
$1.35 ฿43.53
-76.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.5 ¥53.8
$7.85 ฿254
-4.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.11 ¥7.98
$1.25 ฿40.4
-11.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.9K ¥143K
$21.2K ฿684.9K
-5.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$13.3K ¥95.2K
$21.8K ฿706.8K
-39.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Qingdao, Shandong
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$52.4 ¥376
$70.6 ฿2,285
-25.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.92 ¥78.4
$13.72 ฿444
-20.41%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.39 ¥74.5
$17.56 ฿568
-40.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Qingdao, Shandong
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$26.42 ¥190
$41.64 ฿1,347
-36.55%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.84 ¥149
$6.9 ฿223
202.03%
Cinema Ticket
$6.88 ¥49.31
$5.8 ฿188
18.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Qingdao, Shandong
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$336 ¥2,412
$308 ฿9,963
9.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.6K ¥176.6K
$14.7K ฿475.8K
67.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Qingdao, Shandong
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.9 ¥559
$55.4 ฿1,793
40.69%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.63 ¥277
$26.4 ฿854
46.33%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.8 ¥572
$85.1 ฿2,755
-6.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 ¥735
$71.8 ฿2,323
42.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Qingdao, Shandong
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$342 ¥2,456
$434 ฿14K
-21.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$190 ¥1,365
$235 ฿7,610
-19.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$730 ¥5,233
$821 ฿26.6K
-11.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$415 ¥2,976
$498 ฿16.1K
-16.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,925 ¥28.2K
$2,180 ฿70.6K
80.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,394 ¥17.2K
$1,543 ฿49.9K
55.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Qingdao, Shandong
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$941 ¥6,750
$703 ฿22.8K
33.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
5
-23.80%

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

Last update for Qingdao, Shandong: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

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