Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between South Korea and Chiang Mai
For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $906 a month against $1,543 in South Korea, rent and utilities included – about $7,600 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.
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South Korea Living Index76Cost of Living Index in South KoreaLearn more -
Chiang Mai Living Index45Cost of Living Index in Chiang MaiLearn more
😐 Solo nomad: South Korea is 65.4% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 70.3% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: South Korea is 74.8% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 85% more expensive with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
South Korea
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.67 ₩10.3K
$2.13 ฿71.7
260.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.23 ₩60.7K
$19.40 ฿652
133.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.43 ₩8,637
$5.47 ฿184
17.55%
Cappuccino
$3.92 ₩5,266
$1.68 ฿56.7
133.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64 ₩2,199
$0.66 ฿22.19
148.48%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 ₩1,117
$0.34 ฿11.56
144.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.63 ₩4,874
$2.42 ฿81.3
50.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.55 ₩6,112
$3.73 ฿126
21.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
South Korea
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.09 ₩2,810
$2.06 ฿69.2
1.46%
White Bread (500g)
$3.02 ₩4,060
$1.46 ฿48.98
106.85%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.38 ₩4,545
$1.35 ฿45.27
150.37%
Eggs
$3.22 ₩4,321
$2.27 ฿76.3
41.85%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.53 ₩18.2K
$16.31 ฿548
-17.04%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.81 ₩11.8K
$2.70 ฿90.7
226.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$26.06 ₩35.0K
$9.20 ฿309
183.26%
Apples (1kg)
$8.59 ₩11.5K
$2.39 ฿80.5
259.41%
Banana (1kg)
$3.38 ₩4,546
$1.04 ฿34.80
225.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.23 ₩8,364
$1.60 ฿53.9
289.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.09 ₩8,185
$1.44 ฿48.57
322.92%
Potato (1kg)
$3.97 ₩5,331
$1.30 ฿43.77
205.38%
Onion (1kg)
$2.72 ₩3,653
$1.11 ฿37.45
145.05%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.60 ₩3,492
$0.70 ฿23.65
271.43%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 ₩1,612
$0.51 ฿17.06
135.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.38 ₩4,542
$4.13 ฿139
-18.16%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.90 ₩21.3K
$17.78 ฿598
-10.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.02 ₩2,712
$1.63 ฿54.9
23.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89 ₩3,875
$2.87 ฿96.4
0.70%
🚌 Getting Around
South Korea
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.14 ₩1,532
$0.86 ฿28.88
32.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.85 ₩62.9K
$53.2 ฿1,787
-11.85%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.43 ₩4,610
$1.22 ฿40.99
181.15%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.64 ₩862
$0.56 ฿18.89
14.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.10 ₩12.2K
$2.31 ฿77.8
293.94%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.38 ₩1,856
$1.50 ฿50.4
-8.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8K ₩40.0M
$20.9K ฿701.2K
42.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.9K ₩40.2M
$26.7K ฿898.8K
11.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
South Korea
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$206 ₩276.3K
$61.3 ฿2,059
235.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$39.21 ₩52.7K
$12.50 ฿420
213.68%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.22 ₩31.2K
$20.36 ฿685
14.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
South Korea
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.8 ₩70.9K
$37.94 ฿1,275
39.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.59 ₩22.3K
$3.77 ฿127
340.05%
Cinema Ticket
$10.99 ₩14.8K
$6.60 ฿222
66.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
South Korea
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$906 ₩1.2M
$774 ฿26.0K
17.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.3K ₩31.3M
$14.4K ฿485.3K
61.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
South Korea
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7 ₩76.2K
$54.8 ฿1,842
3.50%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.14 ₩57.9K
$25.26 ฿849
70.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.5 ₩106.8K
$90.6 ฿3,045
-12.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.1 ₩129.1K
$73.3 ฿2,463
31.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
South Korea
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$593 ₩796.1K
$459 ฿15.4K
29.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$423 ₩568.2K
$294 ฿9,877
43.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,531 ₩2.1M
$919 ฿30.9K
66.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$922 ₩1.2M
$552 ฿18.6K
67.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$16.5K ₩22.1M
$1,917 ฿64.5K
758.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$8,341 ₩11.2M
$1,445 ฿48.6K
477.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
South Korea
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,293 ₩3.1M
$592 ฿19.9K
287.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.23
5.57
-24.06%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for South Korea: October 4, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: October 5, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
South Korea $449 28.7%
Chiang Mai $236 25.6% 47.4% $213
Accommodation & Living
South Korea $423 27.1%
Chiang Mai $294 31.8% 30.6% $129
Monthly Utilities & Internet
South Korea $268 17.2%
Chiang Mai $94 10.2% 64.9% $174
Eating Out
South Korea $165 10.6%
Chiang Mai $77 8.4% 53.1% $88
Clothing & Footwear
South Korea $124 7.9%
Chiang Mai $110 11.9% 11.5% $14
Sport & Entertainment
South Korea $75 4.8%
Chiang Mai $51 5.5% 31.6% $24
Getting Around
South Korea $58 3.7%
Chiang Mai $61 6.6% 4.4% $2.6
Groceries & Markets
South Korea $1.1K 31%
Chiang Mai $529 27.8% 49.8% $525
Accommodation & Living
South Korea $922 27.2%
Chiang Mai $552 29% 40.2% $370
Monthly Utilities & Internet
South Korea $307 9.1%
Chiang Mai $107 5.6% 65.3% $201
Eating Out
South Korea $552 16.3%
Chiang Mai $243 12.8% 55.9% $309
Clothing & Footwear
South Korea $276 8.1%
Chiang Mai $244 12.8% 11.5% $32
Sport & Entertainment
South Korea $166 4.9%
Chiang Mai $106 5.6% 36.2% $60
Getting Around
South Korea $118 3.5%
Chiang Mai $123 6.5% 3.8% $4.5
Good to know
🇰🇷 South Korea
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
Weather
Population
51,466,201
127,240
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- South Korea Chiang Mai 3,420 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
- South Korea
- Chiang Mai
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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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