Cost of Living Comparison Between Quang Ngai and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Quang Ngai and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $543 per month in Quang Ngai vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $854 per month in Quang Ngai vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,165 per month in Quang Ngai vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Quang Ngai is about 36% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Quang Ngai and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Quang Ngai 59% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Currency
ðŸ― Eating Out
Quang Ngai
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.04 â‚Ŧ27.2K
$1.96 āļŋ63.6
-46.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.35 â‚Ŧ298.0K
$18.81 āļŋ611
-39.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.68 â‚Ŧ122.8K
$7.92 āļŋ258
-40.91%
Cappuccino
$1.62 â‚Ŧ42.6K
$1.91 āļŋ62.2
-15.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32 â‚Ŧ8,526
$0.84 āļŋ27.25
-61.90%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.20 â‚Ŧ5,211
$0.35 āļŋ11.44
-42.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.06 â‚Ŧ27.9K
$2.21 āļŋ71.7
-52.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 â‚Ŧ40.0K
$3.80 āļŋ124
-60.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Quang Ngai
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 â‚Ŧ37.0K
$1.64 āļŋ53.2
-14.02%
White Bread (500g)
$0.95 â‚Ŧ25.0K
$1.62 āļŋ52.8
-41.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.73 â‚Ŧ19.2K
$1.18 āļŋ38.40
-38.14%
Eggs
$1.18 â‚Ŧ30.9K
$2.01 āļŋ65.4
-41.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.49 â‚Ŧ328.0K
$15.89 āļŋ517
-21.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.04 â‚Ŧ79.9K
$3.01 āļŋ98.0
1.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.17 â‚Ŧ267.1K
$10.77 āļŋ350
-5.57%
Apples (1kg)
$2.62 â‚Ŧ68.9K
$2.61 āļŋ85.0
0.38%
Banana (1kg)
$0.93 â‚Ŧ24.5K
$1.22 āļŋ39.65
-23.77%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.08 â‚Ŧ28.5K
$1.70 āļŋ55.4
-36.47%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.05 â‚Ŧ27.5K
$1.58 āļŋ51.2
-33.54%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 â‚Ŧ29.1K
$1.32 āļŋ42.89
-15.91%
Onion (1kg)
$1.15 â‚Ŧ30.2K
$1.17 āļŋ38.01
-1.71%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.00 â‚Ŧ26.2K
$0.67 āļŋ21.85
49.25%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48 â‚Ŧ12.5K
$0.56 āļŋ18.21
-14.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.18 â‚Ŧ31.0K
$4.53 āļŋ147
-73.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.45 â‚Ŧ143.1K
$18.20 āļŋ592
-70.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.68 â‚Ŧ17.8K
$1.83 āļŋ59.6
-62.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71 â‚Ŧ18.6K
$3.23 āļŋ105
-78.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Quang Ngai
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.35 â‚Ŧ9,061
$0.89 āļŋ28.83
-60.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$6.54 â‚Ŧ171.8K
$19.38 āļŋ630
-66.25%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.84 â‚Ŧ22.0K
$1.35 āļŋ43.95
-37.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.70 â‚Ŧ18.3K
$1.35 āļŋ43.79
-48.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.72 â‚Ŧ71.4K
$8.25 āļŋ268
-67.03%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.87 â‚Ŧ22.7K
$1.27 āļŋ41.40
-31.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.5K â‚Ŧ696.1M
$21.2K āļŋ687.8K
25.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.4K â‚Ŧ746.9M
$22.5K āļŋ731.0K
26.48%
ðŸ§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Quang Ngai
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$64.8 â‚Ŧ1.7M
$70.2 āļŋ2,281
-7.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.98 â‚Ŧ157.0K
$13.77 āļŋ448
-56.57%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.13 â‚Ŧ213.6K
$17.60 āļŋ572
-53.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Quang Ngai
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$21.60 â‚Ŧ567.4K
$41.57 āļŋ1,352
-48.04%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.52 â‚Ŧ197.4K
$6.60 āļŋ215
13.94%
Cinema Ticket
$3.00 â‚Ŧ78.8K
$5.78 āļŋ188
-48.10%
ðŸ§ļ Childcare & Education
Quang Ngai
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$153 â‚Ŧ4.0M
$306 āļŋ9,953
-49.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.1K â‚Ŧ343.8M
$14.8K āļŋ482.0K
-11.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Quang Ngai
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$38.88 â‚Ŧ1.0M
$54.4 āļŋ1,768
-28.49%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.25 â‚Ŧ663.2K
$26.14 āļŋ850
-3.40%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$52.5 â‚Ŧ1.4M
$84.5 āļŋ2,748
-37.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.4 â‚Ŧ2.0M
$69.4 āļŋ2,257
9.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Quang Ngai
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$140 â‚Ŧ3.7M
$424 āļŋ13.8K
-67.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$107 â‚Ŧ2.8M
$238 āļŋ7,743
-55.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$321 â‚Ŧ8.4M
$825 āļŋ26.8K
-61.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$207 â‚Ŧ5.4M
$515 āļŋ16.7K
-59.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,258 â‚Ŧ85.5M
$2,049 āļŋ66.6K
58.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,387 â‚Ŧ36.4M
$1,523 āļŋ49.5K
-8.92%
ðŸ’ĩ Salaries & Financials
Quang Ngai
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$216 â‚Ŧ5.7M
$635 āļŋ20.6K
-65.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.67
5
113.40%

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

Last update for Quang Ngai: April 25, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $140 in Quang Ngai versus $424 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 194% higher in Chiang Mai, 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 $11.00 in Quang Ngai versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $174 vs $243 – making Quang Ngai 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
Quang Ngai vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Quang Ngai or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 57% more than Quang Ngai, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Quang Ngai vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $814 per month in Quang Ngai and $1,278 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Quang Ngai or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Quang Ngai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Quang Ngai and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $153 per month in Quang Ngai and $306 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Quang Ngai or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 40% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,200/month in Quang Ngai or Chiang Mai?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $543 in Quang Ngai and $852 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Quang Ngai or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Quang Ngai costs $543 versus $852 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Quang Ngai compared to Chiang Mai?
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.
Should I move to Quang Ngai or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Quang Ngai. 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.

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