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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $709 per month in Tengzhou vs $947 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,126 per month in Tengzhou vs $1,411 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,542 per month in Tengzhou vs $1,874 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Tengzhou is about 25% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Tengzhou and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Tengzhou 48% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tengzhou
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.81 ¥18.85
$2.08 ฿68.6
35.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.93 ¥147
$19.64 ฿646
11.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.99 ¥33.49
$5.65 ฿186
-11.68%
Cappuccino
$3.06 ¥20.55
$1.81 ฿59.4
69.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 ¥3.11
$0.71 ฿23.45
-35.21%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 ¥1.79
$0.32 ฿10.38
-15.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.89 ¥6.00
$2.24 ฿73.6
-60.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07 ¥13.90
$3.63 ฿119
-42.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tengzhou
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.81 ¥12.16
$1.96 ฿64.4
-7.65%
White Bread (500g)
$1.56 ¥10.43
$1.50 ฿49.39
4.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.91 ¥6.10
$1.34 ฿43.93
-32.09%
Eggs
$1.53 ¥10.26
$2.26 ฿74.5
-32.30%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.65 ¥84.9
$16.26 ฿535
-22.20%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.13 ¥20.99
$2.95 ฿97.1
6.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.02 ¥67.2
$9.94 ฿327
0.80%
Apples (1kg)
$1.86 ¥12.48
$2.57 ฿84.6
-27.63%
Banana (1kg)
$1.25 ¥8.40
$1.06 ฿34.73
17.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.49 ¥10.02
$1.61 ฿53.0
-7.45%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.14 ¥7.67
$1.52 ฿49.97
-25.00%
Potato (1kg)
$0.71 ¥4.75
$1.27 ฿41.77
-44.09%
Onion (1kg)
$0.97 ¥6.52
$1.07 ฿35.06
-9.35%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.59 ¥3.97
$0.72 ฿23.68
-18.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ¥3.66
$0.51 ฿16.72
7.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.08 ¥20.63
$4.19 ฿138
-26.49%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.51 ¥70.5
$17.87 ฿587
-41.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.73 ¥4.93
$1.69 ฿55.7
-56.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 ¥10.66
$2.84 ฿93.3
-44.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Tengzhou
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 ¥1.96
$0.93 ฿30.43
-68.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$16.47 ¥111
$53.9 ฿1,771
-69.42%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.38 ¥9.25
$1.23 ฿40.59
12.20%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 ¥2.38
$0.58 ฿18.96
-39.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.63 ¥44.48
$2.42 ฿79.7
173.97%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.13 ¥7.58
$1.41 ฿46.43
-19.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.6K ¥131.3K
$21.4K ฿705.1K
-8.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.1K ¥114.7K
$27.3K ฿898.7K
-37.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tengzhou
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$44.53 ¥299
$63.7 ฿2,093
-30.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.04 ¥67.3
$12.85 ฿423
-21.87%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.50 ¥77.2
$20.22 ฿665
-43.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tengzhou
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.95 ¥281
$38.74 ฿1,274
8.29%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.85 ¥93.0
$3.97 ฿130
248.87%
Cinema Ticket
$5.84 ¥39.18
$6.74 ฿222
-13.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tengzhou
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$331 ¥2,223
$778 ฿25.6K
-57.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.8K ¥112.4K
$14.6K ฿480.4K
14.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tengzhou
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.34 ¥298
$54.3 ฿1,785
-18.33%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.90 ¥201
$25.45 ฿837
17.49%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$70.5 ¥473
$94.3 ฿3,102
-25.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.2 ¥491
$73.4 ฿2,415
-0.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tengzhou
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$274 ¥1,841
$490 ฿16.1K
-43.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$194 ¥1,302
$289 ฿9,512
-32.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$594 ¥3,984
$894 ฿29.4K
-33.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$366 ¥2,453
$517 ฿17.0K
-29.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,999 ¥20.1K
$1,955 ฿64.3K
53.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,032 ¥13.6K
$1,477 ฿48.6K
37.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tengzhou
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$602 ฿19.8K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.89
5.57
-30.16%

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

Last update for Tengzhou: August 30, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $274 in Tengzhou versus $490 in Chiang Mai. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $22.00 in Tengzhou versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $196 in Tengzhou vs $240 in Chiang Mai – so Tengzhou wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Tengzhou vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tengzhou or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 34% more than Tengzhou, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Tengzhou and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,064 per month in Tengzhou and $1,421 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Tengzhou or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Tengzhou, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Tengzhou and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $331 per month in Tengzhou and $778 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Tengzhou or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 22% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Tengzhou or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Tengzhou, where all-in costs run around $709, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Tengzhou it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tengzhou or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Tengzhou costs $709 versus $947 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Tengzhou compared to Chiang Mai?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Tengzhou or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Tengzhou. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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