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 4.2% cheaper than Chiang Mai without rent, and 11.1% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Qingdao, Shandong is 0.3% cheaper than Chiang Mai without rent, and 4.4% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Qingdao, Shandong
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.39 ¥23.17
$2.01 ฿64.4
68.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.06 ¥124
$18.23 ฿583
-0.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.56 ¥31.17
$7.65 ฿245
-40.39%
Cappuccino
$3.31 ¥22.62
$1.92 ฿61.4
72.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57 ¥3.93
$0.84 ฿26.91
-32.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29 ¥1.96
$0.36 ฿11.39
-19.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.86 ¥5.89
$2.19 ฿70.0
-60.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 ¥14.64
$3.79 ฿121
-43.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Qingdao, Shandong
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.89 ¥12.90
$1.64 ฿52.4
15.24%
White Bread (500g)
$1.53 ¥10.46
$1.62 ฿51.8
-5.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.93 ¥6.33
$1.15 ฿36.89
-19.13%
Eggs
$1.85 ¥12.68
$1.94 ฿62.0
-4.64%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.09 ¥103
$15.94 ฿510
-5.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.26 ¥29.17
$3.10 ฿99.2
37.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.28 ¥70.3
$11.07 ฿354
-7.14%
Apples (1kg)
$1.38 ¥9.43
$2.71 ฿86.6
-49.08%
Banana (1kg)
$1.19 ¥8.17
$1.18 ฿37.70
0.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.91 ¥13.05
$1.71 ฿54.5
11.70%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.05 ¥7.21
$1.61 ฿51.3
-34.78%
Potato (1kg)
$0.69 ¥4.72
$1.39 ฿44.54
-50.36%
Onion (1kg)
$1.10 ¥7.50
$1.15 ฿36.72
-4.35%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 ¥6.88
$0.71 ฿22.77
42.25%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.47 ¥3.25
$0.55 ฿17.60
-14.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.91 ¥26.76
$4.57 ฿146
-14.44%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.59 ¥99.8
$18.87 ฿604
-22.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.00 ¥6.84
$1.82 ฿58.2
-45.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54 ¥10.54
$3.21 ฿103
-52.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Qingdao, Shandong
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.28 ¥1.89
$0.88 ฿28.17
-68.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$16.63 ¥114
$18.89 ฿604
-11.96%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.35 ¥9.24
$1.41 ฿45.18
-4.26%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.34 ¥2.34
$1.30 ฿41.60
-73.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.50 ¥51.3
$8.20 ฿262
-8.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.12 ¥7.63
$1.23 ฿39.19
-8.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.4K ¥139.3K
$21.2K ฿677.2K
-3.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$13.4K ¥91.4K
$22.3K ฿713.5K
-40.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Qingdao, Shandong
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$51.1 ¥350
$69.9 ฿2,234
-26.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.83 ¥74.1
$14.07 ฿450
-23.03%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.38 ¥71.0
$17.70 ฿566
-41.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Qingdao, Shandong
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.94 ¥177
$41.41 ฿1,324
-37.36%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.15 ¥145
$6.69 ฿214
216.14%
Cinema Ticket
$6.75 ¥46.20
$5.74 ฿184
17.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Qingdao, Shandong
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$338 ¥2,309
$299 ฿9,569
12.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.4K ¥166.9K
$15.0K ฿480.0K
62.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Qingdao, Shandong
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.6 ¥517
$54.8 ฿1,753
37.83%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.73 ¥265
$26.35 ฿843
46.98%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.8 ¥553
$84.7 ฿2,707
-4.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101 ¥693
$69.7 ฿2,230
45.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Qingdao, Shandong
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$335 ¥2,288
$427 ฿13.7K
-21.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$195 ¥1,334
$241 ฿7,699
-18.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$735 ¥5,026
$811 ฿25.9K
-9.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$410 ¥2,803
$498 ฿15.9K
-17.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,625 ¥24.8K
$2,022 ฿64.7K
79.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,161 ¥14.8K
$1,524 ฿48.7K
41.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Qingdao, Shandong
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,058 ¥7,239
$639 ฿20.4K
65.58%
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: April 12, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 13, 2026

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

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