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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,231 per month in Yamanashi vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,893 per month in Yamanashi vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,555 per month in Yamanashi vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Yamanashi costs about 42% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Yamanashi and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Yamanashi 8% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.52 ¥1,362

$1.94 ฿63.6

339.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.03 ¥5,603

$18.64 ฿609

87.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.22 ¥995

$7.82 ฿256

-20.46%

Cappuccino

$3.10 ¥496

$1.95 ฿63.9

58.97%

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

$1.19 ¥190

$0.85 ฿27.80

40.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 ¥112

$0.35 ฿11.60

100.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.35 ¥536

$2.13 ฿69.7

57.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.16 ¥506

$3.73 ฿122

-15.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 ¥170

$1.71 ฿56.0

-38.01%

White Bread (500g)

$0.94 ¥151

$1.63 ฿53.3

-42.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.36 ¥217

$1.14 ฿37.18

19.30%

Eggs

$1.73 ¥276

$1.93 ฿63.2

-10.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.08 ¥2,252

$16.21 ฿530

-13.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.77 ¥922

$3.12 ฿102

84.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.43 ¥2,468

$10.90 ฿356

41.56%

Apples (1kg)

$5.59 ¥894

$2.75 ฿90.1

103.27%

Banana (1kg)

$2.87 ¥460

$1.21 ฿39.56

137.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.10 ¥336

$1.62 ฿53.0

29.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.04 ¥647

$1.59 ฿51.9

154.09%

Potato (1kg)

$1.92 ¥307

$1.40 ฿45.75

37.14%

Onion (1kg)

$2.60 ¥415

$1.17 ฿38.20

122.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.21 ¥193

$0.66 ฿21.62

83.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 ¥117

$0.53 ฿17.24

37.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.49 ¥558

$4.69 ฿153

-25.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.33 ¥1,492

$18.66 ฿610

-50.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.86 ¥457

$1.80 ฿58.8

58.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 ¥365

$3.23 ฿106

-29.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.67 ¥267

$0.90 ฿29.28

85.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.9 ¥8,778

$19.21 ฿628

185.68%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.51 ¥561

$1.41 ฿45.96

148.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.93 ¥468

$1.29 ฿42.16

127.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.52 ¥2,803

$7.84 ฿256

123.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 ¥189

$1.27 ฿41.62

-7.09%

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

$23.0K ¥3.7M

$21.3K ฿695.5K

8.06%

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

$16.8K ¥2.7M

$22.2K ฿726.1K

-24.29%

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

$138 ¥22.1K

$69.1 ฿2,258

100.49%

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

$27.00 ¥4,318

$14.08 ฿460

91.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.38 ¥5,499

$18.00 ฿588

91.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.5 ¥8,873

$41.06 ฿1,342

35.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.92 ¥2,226

$6.96 ฿227

100.00%

Cinema Ticket

$12.62 ¥2,019

$5.92 ฿193

113.18%

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

$469 ¥75.0K

$299 ฿9,775

56.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.4K ¥1.8M

$15.0K ฿488.8K

-23.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.40 ¥7,421

$54.7 ฿1,788

-15.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.10 ¥5,135

$26.77 ฿875

19.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$56.2 ¥8,981

$85.0 ฿2,778

-33.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.7 ¥14.7K

$70.6 ฿2,308

29.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$472 ¥75.4K

$428 ฿14.0K

10.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$335 ¥53.5K

$237 ฿7,759

40.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$870 ¥139.2K

$801 ฿26.2K

8.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$668 ¥106.8K

$515 ฿16.9K

29.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,666 ¥746.4K

$1,975 ฿64.5K

136.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,725 ¥435.8K

$1,475 ฿48.2K

84.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,567 ¥730.5K

$617 ฿20.2K

639.67%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.78

-64.40%

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

Last update for Yamanashi: June 1, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $472 in Yamanashi versus $428 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.

Salaries run about 640% higher in Yamanashi, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Yamanashi versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $286 vs $246 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Yamanashi vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yamanashi costs about 42% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,847 per month in Yamanashi and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $469 per month in Yamanashi and $299 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 16% more in Yamanashi, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Yamanashi at $1,231. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Yamanashi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $1,231 in Yamanashi. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Yamanashi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.