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

😐 Solo nomad: Taichung is 51.5% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 39% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Taichung is 53.1% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 52.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Taichung
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.03 NT$160
$2.03 ฿64.2
147.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.17 NT$957
$18.59 ฿588
62.29%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.27 NT$167
$7.48 ฿237
-29.55%
Cappuccino
$2.96 NT$93.9
$2.00 ฿63.2
48.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16 NT$36.63
$0.85 ฿26.81
36.47%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79 NT$24.94
$0.35 ฿11.13
125.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.09 NT$66.2
$2.21 ฿70.0
-5.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81 NT$89.2
$3.76 ฿119
-25.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Taichung
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.74 NT$119
$1.72 ฿54.4
117.44%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 NT$55.4
$1.63 ฿51.7
7.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.85 NT$90.4
$1.16 ฿36.66
145.69%
Eggs
$3.14 NT$99.5
$1.98 ฿62.6
58.59%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$31.61 NT$1,002
$15.93 ฿504
98.43%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.12 NT$257
$3.17 ฿100
156.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.54 NT$493
$10.90 ฿345
42.57%
Apples (1kg)
$4.65 NT$148
$2.65 ฿83.7
75.47%
Banana (1kg)
$1.80 NT$57.0
$1.22 ฿38.70
47.54%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.17 NT$68.9
$1.70 ฿53.7
27.65%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.01 NT$95.4
$1.59 ฿50.3
89.31%
Potato (1kg)
$1.32 NT$41.92
$1.32 ฿41.90
-
Onion (1kg)
$1.94 NT$61.4
$1.17 ฿36.99
65.81%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.39 NT$75.9
$0.68 ฿21.46
251.47%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 NT$39.29
$0.56 ฿17.64
121.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.02 NT$127
$4.51 ฿143
-10.86%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.53 NT$493
$19.07 ฿604
-18.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 NT$54.0
$1.77 ฿56.0
-3.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57 NT$81.6
$3.18 ฿101
-19.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Taichung
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.89 NT$28.08
$0.96 ฿30.47
-7.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.24 NT$927
$18.90 ฿598
54.71%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.92 NT$92.6
$1.36 ฿42.98
114.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.19 NT$37.85
$1.35 ฿42.80
-11.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.30 NT$326
$8.03 ฿254
28.27%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.06 NT$33.49
$1.24 ฿39.34
-14.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.2K NT$1.1M
$21.2K ฿669.8K
61.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K NT$815.4K
$21.8K ฿688.5K
18.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Taichung
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$94.9 NT$3,010
$71.2 ฿2,255
33.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.97 NT$792
$14.09 ฿446
77.22%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.95 NT$696
$17.47 ฿553
25.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Taichung
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.08 NT$1,144
$42.07 ฿1,332
-14.24%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.11 NT$320
$6.88 ฿218
46.95%
Cinema Ticket
$10.65 NT$338
$5.94 ฿188
79.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Taichung
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$354 NT$11.2K
$307 ฿9,728
15.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.8K NT$658.4K
$14.8K ฿468.2K
40.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Taichung
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$83.5 NT$2,648
$55.7 ฿1,762
49.97%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.55 NT$1,096
$26.79 ฿848
28.97%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.9 NT$3,040
$83.2 ฿2,634
15.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$127 NT$4,020
$70.1 ฿2,219
80.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Taichung
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$374 NT$11.9K
$427 ฿13.5K
-12.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$286 NT$9,081
$237 ฿7,504
20.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,025 NT$32.5K
$802 ฿25.4K
27.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$726 NT$23.0K
$503 ฿15.9K
44.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,928 NT$219.7K
$2,061 ฿65.2K
236.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,922 NT$251.2K
$1,533 ฿48.5K
416.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Taichung
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,431 NT$45.4K
$654 ฿20.7K
118.87%
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: March 1, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

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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