ðA single person spends $680 per month in Yuncheng vs $872 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
ðA couple spends around $1,071 per month in Yuncheng vs $1,337 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
ðA family of three spends $1,462 per month in Yuncheng vs $1,802 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
ðYuncheng is about 22% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
ðBoth Yuncheng and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median â Yuncheng50% lower, Chiang Mai35% lower.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Yuncheng
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.77ÂĨ12.09
$2.01āļŋ64.5
-11.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.87ÂĨ122
$18.23āļŋ584
-1.97%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.55ÂĨ37.90
$7.65āļŋ245
-27.45%
Cappuccino
$3.49ÂĨ23.82
$1.92āļŋ61.5
81.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36ÂĨ2.49
$0.84āļŋ26.96
-57.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26ÂĨ1.76
$0.36āļŋ11.42
-27.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.82ÂĨ5.59
$2.19āļŋ70.2
-62.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76ÂĨ12.04
$3.79āļŋ121
-53.56%
ð Groceries & Markets
Yuncheng
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.51ÂĨ10.30
$1.64āļŋ52.5
-7.93%
White Bread(500g)
$1.56ÂĨ10.67
$1.62āļŋ51.9
-3.70%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.80ÂĨ5.49
$1.15āļŋ36.96
-30.43%
Eggs
$1.60ÂĨ10.95
$1.94āļŋ62.1
-17.53%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.03ÂĨ48.02
$15.94āļŋ511
-55.90%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$1.99ÂĨ13.61
$3.10āļŋ99.4
-35.81%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.77ÂĨ59.9
$11.07āļŋ355
-20.78%
Apples(1kg)
$1.64ÂĨ11.19
$2.71āļŋ86.7
-39.48%
Banana(1kg)
$1.18ÂĨ8.08
$1.18āļŋ37.77
-
Oranges(1kg)
$1.28ÂĨ8.73
$1.71āļŋ54.6
-25.15%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.76ÂĨ5.17
$1.61āļŋ51.4
-52.80%
Potato(1kg)
$0.67ÂĨ4.56
$1.39āļŋ44.63
-51.80%
Onion(1kg)
$0.57ÂĨ3.88
$1.15āļŋ36.78
-50.43%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.56ÂĨ3.80
$0.71āļŋ22.81
-21.13%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55ÂĨ3.77
$0.55āļŋ17.63
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.72ÂĨ18.58
$4.57āļŋ146
-40.48%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.58ÂĨ58.6
$18.87āļŋ605
-54.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.72ÂĨ4.94
$1.82āļŋ58.3
-60.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70ÂĨ11.59
$3.21āļŋ103
-47.04%
ð Getting Around
Yuncheng
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.29ÂĨ2.00
$0.88āļŋ28.23
-67.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.58ÂĨ113
$18.89āļŋ605
-12.23%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.72ÂĨ4.89
$1.41āļŋ45.27
-48.94%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.33ÂĨ2.25
$1.30āļŋ41.68
-74.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.26ÂĨ29.07
$8.20āļŋ263
-48.05%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.19ÂĨ8.14
$1.23āļŋ39.27
-3.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1KÂĨ144.4K
$21.2Kāļŋ678.5K
-0.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.3KÂĨ111.6K
$22.3Kāļŋ714.9K
-26.76%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Yuncheng
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$45.71ÂĨ312
$69.9āļŋ2,239
-34.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.06ÂĨ41.37
$14.07āļŋ451
-56.93%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.84ÂĨ80.9
$17.70āļŋ567
-33.11%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Yuncheng
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.30ÂĨ289
$41.41āļŋ1,327
2.15%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.68ÂĨ93.5
$6.69āļŋ214
104.48%
Cinema Ticket
$4.89ÂĨ33.38
$5.74āļŋ184
-14.81%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Yuncheng
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$331ÂĨ2,261
$299āļŋ9,587
10.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.2KÂĨ124.0K
$15.0Kāļŋ480.9K
20.94%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Yuncheng
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.7ÂĨ380
$54.8āļŋ1,756
1.57%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.95ÂĨ252
$26.35āļŋ844
40.23%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$68.4ÂĨ467
$84.7āļŋ2,712
-19.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.8ÂĨ477
$69.7āļŋ2,234
0.06%
ð Accommodation & Living
Yuncheng
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$275ÂĨ1,875
$427āļŋ13.7K
-35.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$184ÂĨ1,256
$241āļŋ7,713
-23.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$604ÂĨ4,123
$811āļŋ26.0K
-25.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$360ÂĨ2,458
$498āļŋ16.0K
-27.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,230ÂĨ22.1K
$2,022āļŋ64.8K
59.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,193ÂĨ15.0K
$1,524āļŋ48.8K
43.92%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Yuncheng
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$639āļŋ20.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.32
5
-13.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Yuncheng: April 11, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A central one-bedroom costs $275 in Yuncheng versus $427 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.
ðA mid-range dinner for two costs $18 in Yuncheng versus $18 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $158 vs $246 â making Yuncheng 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
Yuncheng vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Yuncheng or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 28% more than Yuncheng, 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 Yuncheng vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,020 per month in Yuncheng and $1,308 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled â not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Yuncheng or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Yuncheng, 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 Yuncheng and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $331 per month in Yuncheng and $299 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 Yuncheng or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 56% 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 $1,200/month in Yuncheng or Chiang Mai?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably â all-in costs are $680 in Yuncheng and $872 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Yuncheng or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Yuncheng costs $680 versus $872 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Yuncheng 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 â central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Yuncheng or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Yuncheng. 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.