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

😐 Solo nomad: Seoul is 82.3% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 105.7% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Seoul is 93.4% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 117.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Seoul
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.57 ₩11.6K
$2.02 ฿65.3
324.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.8 ₩75.7K
$18.78 ฿608
197.18%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.48 ₩8,798
$7.67 ฿248
-15.51%
Cappuccino
$3.94 ₩5,341
$1.98 ฿64.2
98.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 ₩2,275
$0.82 ฿26.64
104.88%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81 ₩1,098
$0.33 ฿10.58
145.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.72 ₩5,050
$2.12 ฿68.6
75.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.91 ₩8,020
$3.73 ฿121
58.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Seoul
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.26 ₩3,069
$1.64 ฿53.2
37.80%
White Bread (500g)
$3.31 ₩4,489
$1.57 ฿50.9
110.83%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.1 ₩4,205
$1.19 ฿38.62
160.50%
Eggs
$3.22 ₩4,374
$1.98 ฿64.1
62.63%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.06 ₩19.1K
$15.99 ฿517
-12.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.93 ₩14.8K
$3.12 ฿101
250.32%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$34.17 ₩46.4K
$11.16 ฿361
206.18%
Apples (1kg)
$7.69 ₩10.4K
$2.76 ฿89.2
178.62%
Banana (1kg)
$3.48 ₩4,728
$1.22 ฿39.5
185.25%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.66 ₩7,685
$1.71 ฿55.4
230.99%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.72 ₩9,119
$1.55 ฿50.2
333.55%
Potato (1kg)
$3.84 ₩5,209
$1.34 ฿43.21
186.57%
Onion (1kg)
$2.87 ₩3,888
$1.21 ฿39.23
137.19%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.53 ₩3,438
$0.72 ฿23.2
251.39%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 ₩1,802
$0.53 ฿17.05
150.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.36 ₩4,554
$4.72 ฿153
-28.81%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.58 ₩27.9K
$18.39 ฿595
11.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.44 ₩3,309
$1.79 ฿57.9
36.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.35 ₩4,547
$3.21 ฿104
4.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Seoul
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.12 ₩1,516
$0.94 ฿30.44
19.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.88 ₩63.6K
$18.9 ฿612
148.04%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.57 ₩4,847
$1.42 ฿46.08
151.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.57 ₩779
$1.35 ฿43.53
-57.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.66 ₩11.8K
$7.85 ฿254
10.32%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 ₩1,692
$1.25 ฿40.4
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.4K ₩37.2M
$21.2K ฿684.9K
29.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.8K ₩33.7M
$21.8K ฿706.8K
13.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seoul
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$165 ₩224.5K
$70.6 ฿2,285
134.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.61 ₩47K
$13.72 ฿444
152.26%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.4 ₩30.4K
$17.56 ฿568
27.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Seoul
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.9 ₩77.2K
$41.64 ฿1,347
36.65%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.73 ₩32.2K
$6.9 ฿223
243.91%
Cinema Ticket
$11.1 ₩15.1K
$5.8 ฿188
91.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Seoul
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$413 ₩560.9K
$308 ฿9,963
34.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23K ₩31.2M
$14.7K ฿475.8K
56.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Seoul
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7 ₩79.7K
$55.4 ฿1,793
6.01%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.88 ₩63.6K
$26.4 ฿854
77.58%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79 ₩107.2K
$85.1 ฿2,755
-7.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115 ₩155.7K
$71.8 ฿2,323
59.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Seoul
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$933 ₩1.3M
$434 ฿14K
114.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$587 ₩797.1K
$235 ฿7,610
149.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,582 ₩3.5M
$821 ฿26.6K
214.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,302 ₩1.8M
$498 ฿16.1K
161.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$21.4K ₩29M
$2,180 ฿70.6K
881.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$11.1K ₩15M
$1,543 ฿49.9K
617.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Seoul
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,244 ₩4.4M
$703 ฿22.8K
361.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.14
5
-17.20%

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

Last update for Seoul: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

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