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

😐 Solo nomad: Taichung is 47.3% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 39.1% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Taichung is 52.6% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 49.3% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.16 NT$162

$2.01 ฿64.4

156.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.33 NT$954

$18.23 ฿583

66.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.57 NT$175

$7.65 ฿244

-27.19%

Cappuccino

$3.03 NT$95.2

$1.92 ฿61.3

57.81%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 NT$36.12

$0.84 ฿26.90

36.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 NT$26.18

$0.36 ฿11.39

130.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.19 NT$68.9

$2.19 ฿70.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 NT$92.6

$3.79 ฿121

-22.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.84 NT$121

$1.64 ฿52.4

134.15%

White Bread (500g)

$1.72 NT$54.0

$1.62 ฿51.8

6.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.77 NT$87.1

$1.15 ฿36.88

140.87%

Eggs

$3.17 NT$99.9

$1.94 ฿62.0

63.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$31.24 NT$983

$15.94 ฿510

95.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.34 NT$262

$3.10 ฿99.2

169.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.65 NT$493

$11.07 ฿354

41.37%

Apples (1kg)

$4.69 NT$148

$2.71 ฿86.5

73.06%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 NT$57.0

$1.18 ฿37.69

53.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.19 NT$68.8

$1.71 ฿54.5

28.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.07 NT$96.7

$1.61 ฿51.3

90.68%

Potato (1kg)

$1.30 NT$40.78

$1.39 ฿44.53

-6.47%

Onion (1kg)

$1.96 NT$61.8

$1.15 ฿36.70

70.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.29 NT$72.1

$0.71 ฿22.76

222.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 NT$40.40

$0.55 ฿17.60

132.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.10 NT$129

$4.57 ฿146

-10.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.89 NT$500

$18.87 ฿603

-15.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 NT$52.3

$1.82 ฿58.2

-8.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 NT$79.5

$3.21 ฿103

-21.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 NT$27.69

$0.88 ฿28.16

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.32 NT$923

$18.89 ฿604

55.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.95 NT$92.9

$1.41 ฿45.17

109.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.19 NT$37.48

$1.30 ฿41.59

-8.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.12 NT$319

$8.20 ฿262

23.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 NT$31.72

$1.23 ฿39.18

-17.89%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$34.1K NT$1.1M

$21.2K ฿677.0K

61.03%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.4K NT$829.9K

$22.3K ฿713.3K

18.20%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$94.3 NT$2,966

$69.9 ฿2,234

34.89%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$24.30 NT$765

$14.07 ฿450

72.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.75 NT$685

$17.70 ฿566

22.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.14 NT$1,137

$41.41 ฿1,324

-12.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.08 NT$317

$6.69 ฿214

50.67%

Cinema Ticket

$10.60 NT$334

$5.74 ฿184

84.67%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$358 NT$11.3K

$299 ฿9,566

19.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.8K NT$654.5K

$15.0K ฿479.8K

38.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$83.7 NT$2,634

$54.8 ฿1,753

52.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.37 NT$1,081

$26.35 ฿842

30.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.8 NT$2,951

$84.7 ฿2,706

10.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$129 NT$4,049

$69.7 ฿2,229

84.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$379 NT$11.9K

$427 ฿13.6K

-11.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$291 NT$9,161

$241 ฿7,697

20.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,053 NT$33.1K

$811 ฿25.9K

29.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$735 NT$23.1K

$498 ฿15.9K

47.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,082 NT$222.9K

$2,022 ฿64.7K

250.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,358 NT$168.6K

$1,524 ฿48.7K

251.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,494 NT$47.0K

$639 ฿20.4K

133.68%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.18

-56.40%

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

Last update for Taichung: April 13, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 13, 2026

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

Taichung vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Phuket

🇹🇭 Thailand

Tbilisi

🇬🇪 Georgia

Cemagi, Bali

🇮🇩 Indonesia

Sanur, Bali

🇮🇩 Indonesia

Shanghai

🇨🇳 China

Izmir

🇹🇷 Turkey

Chisinau

🇲🇩 Moldova

Amman

🇯🇴 Jordan