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

😐 Solo nomad: Shanghai is 9.3% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 40.1% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Shanghai is 13.1% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 43.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shanghai
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.73 ¥33.92
$2.02 ฿65.3
134.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.17 ¥259
$18.78 ฿608
92.60%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.6 ¥40.18
$7.67 ฿248
-26.99%
Cappuccino
$3.56 ¥25.53
$1.98 ฿64.2
79.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54 ¥3.9
$0.82 ฿26.64
-34.15%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ¥2.59
$0.33 ฿10.58
9.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.43 ¥10.25
$2.12 ฿68.6
-32.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 ¥19.81
$3.73 ฿121
-26.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shanghai
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.18 ¥15.66
$1.64 ฿53.2
32.93%
White Bread (500g)
$1.81 ¥13
$1.57 ฿50.9
15.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.1 ¥7.9
$1.19 ฿38.62
-7.56%
Eggs
$1.69 ¥12.1
$1.98 ฿64.1
-14.65%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.79 ¥113
$15.99 ฿517
-1.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 ¥22.76
$3.12 ฿101
1.60%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.88 ¥78.1
$11.16 ฿361
-2.51%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 ¥16.24
$2.76 ฿89.2
-18.12%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 ¥11.98
$1.22 ฿39.5
36.89%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.78 ¥12.78
$1.71 ฿55.4
4.09%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.52 ¥10.94
$1.55 ฿50.2
-1.94%
Potato (1kg)
$0.85 ¥6.09
$1.34 ฿43.21
-36.57%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ¥8.37
$1.21 ฿39.23
-3.31%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ¥4.84
$0.72 ฿23.2
-5.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.6 ¥4.29
$0.53 ฿17.05
13.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.87 ¥20.56
$4.72 ฿153
-39.19%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.16 ¥80
$18.39 ฿595
-39.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.8 ¥5.73
$1.79 ฿57.9
-55.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 ¥11.22
$3.21 ฿104
-51.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Shanghai
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.4 ¥2.89
$0.94 ฿30.44
-57.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.15 ¥252
$18.9 ฿612
85.98%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.29 ¥16.45
$1.42 ฿46.08
61.27%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.37 ¥2.69
$1.35 ฿43.53
-72.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.14 ¥58.4
$7.85 ฿254
3.69%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 ¥7.81
$1.25 ฿40.4
-12.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5K ¥140.1K
$21.2K ฿684.9K
-7.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.2K ¥130.5K
$21.8K ฿706.8K
-16.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shanghai
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$51.6 ¥370
$70.6 ฿2,285
-26.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.68 ¥62.2
$13.72 ฿444
-36.73%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.5 ¥96.8
$17.56 ฿568
-23.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shanghai
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.42 ¥333
$41.64 ฿1,347
11.48%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.44 ¥147
$6.9 ฿223
196.23%
Cinema Ticket
$8.58 ¥61.5
$5.8 ฿188
47.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shanghai
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,307 ¥9,378
$308 ฿9,963
324.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.4K ¥225.4K
$14.7K ฿475.8K
113.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shanghai
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.8 ¥422
$55.4 ฿1,793
6.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.99 ¥265
$26.4 ฿854
40.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.7 ¥558
$85.1 ฿2,755
-8.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.5 ¥706
$71.8 ฿2,323
37.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shanghai
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$952 ¥6,827
$434 ฿14K
119.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$574 ¥4,115
$235 ฿7,610
143.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,518 ¥18.1K
$821 ฿26.6K
206.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,201 ¥8,614
$498 ฿16.1K
141.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$14.4K ¥103.2K
$2,180 ฿70.6K
559.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,106 ¥51K
$1,543 ฿49.9K
360.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shanghai
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,534 ¥11K
$703 ฿22.8K
118.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.58
5
-28.40%

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

Last update for Shanghai: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

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