Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Yongin and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $936 a month against $1,044 in Yongin, rent and utilities included – about $1,300 less a year. The total is higher in Yongin despite lower rent and utilities.

Yongin, South Korea
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Yongin
🇰🇷 South Korea
$1,044
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$936
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Yongin 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 Yongin and in Chiang Mai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,044 per month in Yongin vs $936 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Yongin $1,044
  • Chiang Mai $936

A couple spends around $1,585 per month in Yongin vs $1,457 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Yongin $1,585
  • Chiang Mai $1,457

A family of three spends $2,126 per month in Yongin vs $1,979 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Yongin $2,126
  • Chiang Mai $1,979

Yongin costs about 12% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Yongin and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Yongin 23% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Yongin
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.17 ₩8,244
$2.24 ฿75.6
175.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.36 ₩35.2K
$19.00 ฿641
38.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.70 ₩8,952
$5.55 ฿187
20.72%
Cappuccino
$3.62 ₩4,839
$1.67 ฿56.5
116.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 ₩2,078
$0.64 ฿21.54
143.75%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63 ₩848
$0.31 ฿10.31
103.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.52 ₩4,699
$2.36 ฿79.5
49.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41 ₩5,888
$3.66 ฿124
20.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Yongin
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.16 ₩1,549
$1.95 ฿65.7
-40.51%
White Bread (500g)
$3.18 ₩4,241
$1.44 ฿48.46
120.83%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.28 ₩3,041
$1.33 ฿45.03
71.43%
Eggs
$2.38 ₩3,177
$2.28 ฿77.1
4.39%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.08 ₩21.5K
$16.45 ฿555
-2.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.14 ₩10.9K
$2.78 ฿93.9
192.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.27 ₩15.0K
$9.31 ฿314
21.05%
Apples (1kg)
$7.89 ₩10.5K
$2.35 ฿79.4
235.74%
Banana (1kg)
$3.20 ₩4,271
$0.97 ฿32.79
229.90%
Oranges (1kg)
$7.37 ₩9,842
$1.60 ฿53.9
360.63%
Tomato (1kg)
$7.12 ₩9,505
$1.50 ฿50.6
374.67%
Potato (1kg)
$3.59 ₩4,796
$1.28 ฿43.11
180.47%
Onion (1kg)
$2.39 ₩3,197
$1.10 ฿37.18
117.27%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.06 ₩2,750
$0.71 ฿23.82
190.14%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.49 ₩1,995
$0.49 ฿16.36
204.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.35 ₩4,468
$4.14 ฿140
-19.08%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.84 ₩25.2K
$17.52 ฿591
7.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.29 ₩3,054
$1.61 ฿54.5
42.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.78 ฿93.9
-
🚌 Getting Around
Yongin
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.87 ฿29.30
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$54.1 ฿1,825
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.77 ₩5,029
$1.16 ฿39.04
225.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.62 ₩833
$0.53 ฿17.80
16.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$2.42 ฿81.7
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.37 ₩1,833
$1.45 ฿48.88
-5.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.9K ₩40.0M
$21.1K ฿710.5K
42.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.2K ₩48.3M
$26.9K ฿909.0K
34.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Yongin
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$214 ₩285.8K
$62.2 ฿2,098
244.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$43.25 ₩57.7K
$12.17 ฿411
255.38%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.16 ₩28.3K
$20.12 ฿679
5.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Yongin
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.2 ₩69.7K
$37.31 ฿1,259
39.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.77 ฿127
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.15 ₩14.9K
$6.49 ฿219
71.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Yongin
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$298 ₩398.4K
$736 ฿24.8K
-59.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.8K ₩23.7M
$14.8K ฿498.2K
20.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Yongin
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.4 ₩87.3K
$53.4 ฿1,801
22.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$63.2 ₩84.3K
$24.64 ฿831
156.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.4 ₩99.3K
$91.5 ฿3,087
-18.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$100 ₩134.0K
$71.9 ฿2,427
39.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Yongin
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$482 ฿16.3K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$309 ฿10.4K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,006 ฿33.9K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$633 ฿21.4K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,363 ฿79.7K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,589 ฿53.6K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Yongin
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$590 ฿19.9K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.1
5.57
-26.39%

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

Last update for Yongin: October 27, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Yongin
–
Chiang Mai
$309
Groceries & Markets
Yongin
–
Chiang Mai
$234
Clothing & Footwear
Yongin
–
Chiang Mai
$109
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Yongin
–
Chiang Mai
$94
Eating Out
Yongin
–
Chiang Mai
$78
Getting Around
Yongin
–
Chiang Mai
$61
Sport & Entertainment
Yongin
–
Chiang Mai
$50

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $26 in Yongin versus $19 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $399 vs $234 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇰🇷 Yongin
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
07:19 7:19 AM
05:19 5:19 AM
2 h behind Yongin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,004,081
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 1, 2026: 1 USD = 1,335 KRW (10,000 KRW = 7.49 USD). 1 EUR = 1,491 KRW (10,000 KRW = 6.71 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 33.74 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.67 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Yongin Chiang Mai 3,420 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Yongin
  • 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
Yongin vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Yongin or Chiang Mai?
Yongin costs about 12% 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 Yongin and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,566 per month in Yongin and $1,403 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do dining costs compare in Yongin and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $26 in Yongin 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 Yongin or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 70% more in Yongin, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $800/month in Yongin or in Chiang Mai?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $1,044 in Yongin and $936 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: Yongin or Chiang Mai?
It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $936 in Chiang Mai to $1,044 in Yongin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How safe is Yongin 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.

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