Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Yangsan and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $935 a month against $1,502 in Yangsan, rent and utilities included – about $6,800 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Yangsan, South Korea
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Yangsan
🇰🇷 South Korea
$1,502
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$935
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Yangsan and in Chiang Mai

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Yangsan and in Chiang Mai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,502 per month in Yangsan vs $935 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Yangsan $1,502
  • Chiang Mai $935

A couple spends around $2,576 per month in Yangsan vs $1,467 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Yangsan $2,576
  • Chiang Mai $1,467

A family of three spends $3,649 per month in Yangsan vs $1,999 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Yangsan $3,649
  • Chiang Mai $1,999

Yangsan costs about 61% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Yangsan sits 11% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 31% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Yangsan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.53 ₩10.1K
$2.13 ฿71.8
253.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.18 ₩65.9K
$18.62 ฿626
164.12%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.71 ₩8,982
$5.60 ฿188
19.82%
Cappuccino
$3.58 ₩4,800
$1.66 ฿55.9
115.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77 ₩2,370
$0.65 ฿21.75
172.31%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44 ₩1,933
$0.30 ฿10.25
380.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.80 ₩5,087
$2.32 ฿78.1
63.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.38 ₩5,867
$3.67 ฿123
19.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Yangsan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.26 ₩3,019
$2.02 ฿67.8
11.88%
White Bread (500g)
$3.11 ₩4,165
$1.41 ฿47.34
120.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.08 ₩4,130
$1.39 ฿46.79
121.58%
Eggs
$2.68 ₩3,589
$2.37 ฿79.6
13.08%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.95 ₩14.7K
$16.52 ฿555
-33.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.34 ₩13.8K
$2.67 ฿89.8
287.27%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$25.17 ₩33.7K
$9.02 ฿303
179.05%
Apples (1kg)
$11.12 ₩14.9K
$2.40 ฿80.6
363.33%
Banana (1kg)
$3.72 ₩4,982
$1.04 ฿35.01
257.69%
Oranges (1kg)
$8.16 ₩10.9K
$1.66 ฿55.8
391.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.89 ₩7,890
$1.56 ฿52.4
277.56%
Potato (1kg)
$5.98 ₩8,006
$1.24 ฿41.61
382.26%
Onion (1kg)
$3.37 ₩4,511
$1.09 ฿36.53
209.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.74 ₩3,663
$0.76 ฿25.61
260.53%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 ₩1,713
$0.51 ฿17.29
150.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.25 ₩4,346
$4.12 ฿139
-21.12%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.39 ₩24.6K
$17.93 ฿603
2.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.33 ₩3,118
$1.62 ฿54.6
43.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60 ₩4,825
$2.82 ฿94.9
27.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Yangsan
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.00 ₩1,340
$0.93 ฿31.42
7.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$52.9 ฿1,778
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.67 ₩4,912
$1.18 ฿39.56
211.02%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.62 ₩828
$0.17 ฿5.76
264.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.72 ₩19.7K
$1.81 ฿60.9
713.26%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.42 ₩1,902
$1.47 ฿49.51
-3.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.2K ₩52.5M
$21.0K ฿706.4K
86.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K ₩44.0M
$26.5K ฿891.4K
24.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Yangsan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$198 ₩264.6K
$62.6 ฿2,103
215.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.81 ₩47.9K
$11.60 ฿390
208.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.40 ₩36.7K
$20.30 ฿683
34.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Yangsan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.6 ₩71.7K
$37.88 ฿1,274
41.39%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.01 ₩21.4K
$3.70 ฿124
332.70%
Cinema Ticket
$12.11 ₩16.2K
$6.51 ฿219
86.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Yangsan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$635 ₩850.6K
$727 ฿24.4K
-12.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.6K ₩28.9M
$16.6K ฿557.2K
30.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Yangsan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104 ₩139.8K
$53.5 ฿1,800
94.96%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$65.1 ₩87.2K
$24.80 ฿834
162.58%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.0 ₩124.5K
$90.4 ฿3,039
2.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$126 ₩169.1K
$72.0 ฿2,420
75.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Yangsan
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$537 ₩719.5K
$481 ฿16.2K
11.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$330 ₩441.7K
$310 ฿10.4K
6.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,075 ₩1.4M
$1,058 ฿35.6K
1.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,067 ₩1.4M
$659 ฿22.1K
62.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,793 ₩9.1M
$2,418 ฿81.3K
180.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,962 ₩6.6M
$1,609 ฿54.1K
208.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Yangsan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,647 ₩2.2M
$595 ฿20.0K
176.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.22
5.57
-24.24%

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

Last update for Yangsan: October 31, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Yangsan
$483
Chiang Mai
$237 51% $247
Accommodation & Living
Yangsan
$330
Chiang Mai
$310 6.1% $20
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Yangsan
$261
Chiang Mai
$94 63.8% $166
Clothing & Footwear
Yangsan
$175
Chiang Mai
$108 38.1% $67
Eating Out
Yangsan
$164
Chiang Mai
$77 53.3% $87
Sport & Entertainment
Yangsan
$78
Chiang Mai
$51 34.6% $27
Getting Around
Yangsan
$11 *
Chiang Mai
$59 445% $48

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $537 in Yangsan versus $481 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 in Yangsan are about 2.8 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $49 in Yangsan versus $19 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $483 vs $237 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇰🇷 Yangsan
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
18:16 6:16 PM
16:16 4:16 PM
2 h behind Yangsan
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
335,474
127,240
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to KRW – South Korean Won Converter

South Korean Won exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 1,339 KRW (10,000 KRW = 7.47 USD). 1 EUR = 1,505 KRW (10,000 KRW = 6.65 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 33.62 THB (100 THB = 2.97 USD). 1 EUR = 37.78 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Yangsan Chiang Mai 3,480 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Yangsan
  • Chiang Mai

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Yangsan vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Yangsan or Chiang Mai?
Yangsan costs about 61% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. 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 Yangsan and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,252 per month in Yangsan and $1,403 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Yangsan or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $481 there versus $537 in Yangsan.
How do dining costs compare in Yangsan and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $49 in Yangsan and $19 in Chiang Mai. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Yangsan or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 104% more in Yangsan, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $800/month in Yangsan or in Chiang Mai?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $1,502 in Yangsan and $935 in Chiang Mai. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Yangsan or Chiang Mai?
It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $935 in Chiang Mai to $1,502 in Yangsan. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How safe is Yangsan compared to Chiang Mai?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
Should I move to Yangsan or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Yangsan makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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