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

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $642 per month in Zhongshan vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $996 per month in Zhongshan vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,350 per month in Zhongshan vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

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

Both Zhongshan and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Zhongshan 52% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.80 ¥18.92

$1.96 ฿65.8

42.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.98 ¥115

$18.35 ฿617

-7.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.27 ¥28.89

$7.48 ฿252

-42.91%

Cappuccino

$2.80 ¥18.89

$2.02 ฿67.8

38.61%

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

$0.40 ¥2.72

$0.85 ฿28.50

-52.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 ¥1.81

$0.36 ฿11.96

-25.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.73 ¥4.90

$2.14 ฿71.8

-65.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.69 ¥11.43

$3.59 ฿121

-52.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.77 ¥11.94

$1.65 ฿55.5

7.27%

White Bread (500g)

$1.80 ¥12.17

$1.57 ฿52.7

14.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.97 ¥6.56

$1.19 ฿40.02

-18.49%

Eggs

$1.56 ¥10.54

$1.94 ฿65.1

-19.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.87 ¥87.0

$16.19 ฿544

-20.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.59 ¥17.53

$2.99 ฿101

-13.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.62 ¥85.3

$10.94 ฿368

15.36%

Apples (1kg)

$1.83 ¥12.35

$2.71 ฿91.2

-32.47%

Banana (1kg)

$0.94 ¥6.36

$1.17 ฿39.25

-19.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.60 ¥4.06

$1.69 ฿56.7

-64.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 ¥9.30

$1.60 ฿54.0

-13.75%

Potato (1kg)

$0.50 ¥3.40

$1.38 ฿46.54

-63.77%

Onion (1kg)

$0.73 ¥4.96

$1.20 ฿40.45

-39.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.36 ¥2.44

$0.67 ฿22.50

-46.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ¥3.48

$0.56 ฿18.73

-8.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.86 ¥19.32

$4.64 ฿156

-38.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.36 ¥83.6

$17.62 ฿593

-29.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 ¥4.38

$1.86 ฿62.5

-65.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 ¥13.03

$3.30 ฿111

-41.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 ¥1.96

$0.88 ฿29.68

-67.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$13.82 ¥93.4

$19.34 ฿650

-28.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.28 ¥8.62

$1.36 ฿45.90

-5.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.37 ¥2.52

$1.34 ฿44.98

-72.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.01 ¥47.39

$8.21 ฿276

-14.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 ¥7.65

$1.22 ฿41.18

-7.38%

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

$22.8K ¥154.1K

$21.4K ฿718.1K

6.81%

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

$20.3K ¥137.2K

$22.5K ฿757.7K

-9.85%

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

$38.39 ¥259

$70.7 ฿2,376

-45.68%

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

$8.49 ¥57.4

$14.04 ฿472

-39.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.88 ¥80.3

$17.49 ฿588

-32.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.6 ¥430

$42.15 ฿1,417

50.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.98 ¥47.20

$6.88 ฿231

1.45%

Cinema Ticket

$5.71 ¥38.59

$5.92 ฿199

-3.55%

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

$298 ¥2,014

$309 ฿10.4K

-3.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.5K ¥84.4K

$14.9K ฿500.4K

-16.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.38 ¥300

$55.8 ฿1,875

-20.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.38 ¥205

$26.11 ฿878

16.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$56.6 ¥382

$83.0 ฿2,792

-31.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.3 ¥468

$70.5 ฿2,369

-1.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$196 ¥1,323

$432 ฿14.5K

-54.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$119 ¥806

$239 ฿8,035

-50.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$349 ¥2,359

$822 ฿27.7K

-57.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$200 ¥1,354

$512 ฿17.2K

-60.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,411 ¥16.3K

$1,915 ฿64.4K

25.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,457 ¥9,846

$1,467 ฿49.3K

-0.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$948 ¥6,409

$579 ฿19.5K

63.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.83

-23.40%

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

Last update for Zhongshan: July 11, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $196 in Zhongshan versus $432 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 64% higher in Zhongshan, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $17.00 in Zhongshan versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $202 vs $243 – making Zhongshan 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

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

Chiang Mai costs about 34% more than Zhongshan, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $962 per month in Zhongshan and $1,292 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $298 per month in Zhongshan and $309 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 21% 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.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $642 in Zhongshan and $861 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Zhongshan costs $642 versus $861 in Chiang Mai. 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 Zhongshan. 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.