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

😐 Solo nomad: Taichung is 50.7% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 38.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Taichung is 48.1% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 49.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Taichung
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.98 NT$147
$2.02 ΰΈΏ65.3
146.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.94 NT$883
$18.78 ΰΈΏ608
59.42%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.33 NT$157
$7.67 ΰΈΏ248
-30.51%
Cappuccino
$2.91 NT$85.9
$1.98 ΰΈΏ64.2
46.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12 NT$32.91
$0.82 ΰΈΏ26.64
36.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86 NT$25.31
$0.33 ΰΈΏ10.58
160.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.14 NT$63.2
$2.12 ΰΈΏ68.6
0.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96 NT$87.3
$3.73 ΰΈΏ121
-20.64%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Taichung
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.74 NT$110
$1.64 ΰΈΏ53.2
128.05%
White Bread (500g)
$1.77 NT$52.3
$1.57 ΰΈΏ50.9
12.74%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.76 NT$81.3
$1.19 ΰΈΏ38.62
131.93%
Eggs
$3.24 NT$95.5
$1.98 ΰΈΏ64.1
63.64%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$31.12 NT$918
$15.99 ΰΈΏ517
94.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.99 NT$236
$3.12 ΰΈΏ101
156.09%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.12 NT$476
$11.16 ΰΈΏ361
44.44%
Apples (1kg)
$4.65 NT$137
$2.76 ΰΈΏ89.2
68.48%
Banana (1kg)
$1.81 NT$53.4
$1.22 ΰΈΏ39.5
48.36%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.19 NT$64.7
$1.71 ΰΈΏ55.4
28.07%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.97 NT$87.6
$1.55 ΰΈΏ50.2
91.61%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 NT$39.66
$1.34 ΰΈΏ43.21
-
Onion (1kg)
$1.94 NT$57.3
$1.21 ΰΈΏ39.23
60.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.31 NT$68.1
$0.72 ΰΈΏ23.2
220.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 NT$36.88
$0.53 ΰΈΏ17.05
135.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.06 NT$120
$4.72 ΰΈΏ153
-13.98%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.99 NT$413
$18.39 ΰΈΏ595
-23.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 NT$50.9
$1.79 ΰΈΏ57.9
-3.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65 NT$78.2
$3.21 ΰΈΏ104
-17.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Taichung
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.92 NT$27.28
$0.94 ΰΈΏ30.44
-2.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.28 NT$834
$18.9 ΰΈΏ612
49.63%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.8 NT$82.6
$1.42 ΰΈΏ46.08
97.18%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.23 NT$36.31
$1.35 ΰΈΏ43.53
-8.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.19 NT$301
$7.85 ΰΈΏ254
29.81%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1 NT$29.62
$1.25 ΰΈΏ40.4
-20.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K NT$1M
$21.2K ΰΈΏ684.9K
63.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K NT$762.5K
$21.8K ΰΈΏ706.8K
18.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Taichung
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$97.5 NT$2,875
$70.6 ΰΈΏ2,285
38.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.72 NT$729
$13.72 ΰΈΏ444
80.17%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.97 NT$648
$17.56 ΰΈΏ568
25.11%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Taichung
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.59 NT$1,079
$41.64 ΰΈΏ1,347
-12.13%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.01 NT$295
$6.9 ΰΈΏ223
45.07%
Cinema Ticket
$10.55 NT$311
$5.8 ΰΈΏ188
81.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Taichung
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$353 NT$10.4K
$308 ΰΈΏ9,963
14.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.4K NT$601K
$14.7K ΰΈΏ475.8K
38.57%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Taichung
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.9 NT$2,504
$55.4 ΰΈΏ1,793
53.21%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.33 NT$1,013
$26.4 ΰΈΏ854
30.04%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.8 NT$2,856
$85.1 ΰΈΏ2,755
13.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$129 NT$3,817
$71.8 ΰΈΏ2,323
80.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Taichung
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$387 NT$11.4K
$434 ΰΈΏ14K
-10.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$291 NT$8,573
$235 ΰΈΏ7,610
23.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,018 NT$30K
$821 ΰΈΏ26.6K
24.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$733 NT$21.6K
$498 ΰΈΏ16.1K
47.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,529 NT$222.1K
$2,180 ΰΈΏ70.6K
245.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$8,064 NT$237.9K
$1,543 ΰΈΏ49.9K
422.68%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Taichung
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,461 NT$43.1K
$703 ΰΈΏ22.8K
107.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.18
5
-56.40%

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

Last update for Taichung: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

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