Tokyo vs Chiang Mai Cost of Living

Tokyo (Japan) · Overall index 53.8Chiang Mai (Thailand) · Overall index 26.0

Summary

  • Overall, Chiang Mai is 52% cheaper than Tokyo.
  • Rent in Chiang Mai is 65% cheaper than in Tokyo.
  • Transport in Chiang Mai is 53% cheaper than in Tokyo.
ItemTokyoChiang MaiDiff
Rent-65%
1-bedroom apartment, city centre (monthly)$1,307$477-64%
1-bedroom apartment, outside centre (monthly)$782$325-58%
3-bedroom apartment, city centre (monthly)$2,737$805-71%
3-bedroom apartment, outside centre (monthly)$1,558$542-65%
Groceries-48%
Milk (1L)$0.87$0.53-39%
White bread (500g)$2.62$1.44-45%
Rice (1kg)$3.43$1.68-51%
Eggs (12)$3.26$1.78-45%
Local cheese (1kg)$9.15$4.79-48%
Chicken fillets (1kg)$9.77$4.84-50%
Beef round (1kg)$14.2$6.72-53%
Apples (1kg)$3.74$2.14-43%
Bananas (1kg)$1.62$0.79-51%
Oranges (1kg)$3$1.82-39%
Tomatoes (1kg)$4.44$2.21-50%
Potatoes (1kg)$2.3$1.07-53%
Onions (1kg)$2.06$0.94-54%
Lettuce (1 head)$1.69$0.93-45%
Water (1.5L bottle)$1.8$0.87-52%
Bottle of wine (mid-range)$11.4$5.67-50%
Transport-53%
Public transport, one-way ticket$1.65$0.71-57%
Public transport, monthly pass$75.4$38.2-49%
Taxi, base fare$2.32$1.11-52%
Taxi, per km$1.23$0.56-54%
Gasoline (1L)$0.58$0.29-50%
New compact car (e.g., VW Golf)$18,186$8,510-53%
Dining out-51%
Meal, inexpensive restaurant$13.8$6.98-49%
Meal for 2, mid-range restaurant (3 courses)$70.3$40-43%
Fast food combo meal$7.88$3.87-51%
Cappuccino$3.87$1.62-58%
Coke/Pepsi (0.33L, restaurant)$1.65$0.9-45%
Domestic beer (0.5L, restaurant)$4.95$2.41-51%
Imported beer (0.33L, restaurant)$5.82$2.63-55%
Water (0.33L, restaurant)$1.35$0.64-53%
Telecom-46%
Mobile plan, calls + 10GB+ data (monthly)$41.5$24.9-40%
Broadband internet 60Mbps+ (monthly)$52.1$26.6-49%
Prepaid mobile tariff (1 min)$0.26$0.15-42%
Video streaming subscription (monthly)$12.7$6.1-52%
Utilities & household-47%
Basic utilities, 85m² apartment (monthly)$126$67.6-46%
Electricity (1 kWh)$0.15$0.08-47%
Tap water (1m³)$3.07$1.58-49%
Natural gas (1m³)$1.05$0.56-47%
Waste collection (monthly)$16.3$8.03-51%
Fitness club (monthly)$62.2$32.5-48%
Cinema ticket (1 seat)$9.79$6.4-35%
Men's haircut$23.3$10.6-55%
Domestic cleaning (1 hour)$18.8$9.66-49%
Private kindergarten (monthly)$1,434$810-44%

3,187 total data points · Price data as of 2026-07-01 · Exchange rates as of 2026-07-15

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