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Chiang Mai vs Hanoi cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money · Updated September 2026
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇻🇳 HanoiChiang Mai is 25% cheaper than Hanoi
Living on $994 a month in Chiang Mai feels like about $1,422 in Hanoi — same standard of living, compared by feel rather than exchange rate.
Per day
$53.8 vs $57.8
Per month
$994 vs $1,422
Local meal
฿ 55 vs ₫ 50,000
$1.67 vs $1.9
Taxi 5 km
฿ 52 vs ₫ 85,000
$1.58 vs $3.23
At a glance
FoodChiang Mai 8% cheaper
Cafés & drinksHanoi 43% cheaper
TransportChiang Mai 5% cheaper
StayChiang Mai 25% cheaper
FunHanoi 10% cheaper
- Where Hanoi is clearly cheaper: Transit (71%↓), Cocktail & wine (53%↓), Beer (53%↓)
- Where Chiang Mai is clearly cheaper: Taxi (51%↓), Studio rent (month) (40%↓)
Item by item
| Item | Chiang Mai | Hanoi | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | ฿ 55$1.67 | ₫ 50,000$1.9 | Chiang Mai −12% |
| Street food1 item | ฿ 25$0.76 | ₫ 23,000$0.87 | Chiang Mai −13% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | ฿ 300$9.09 | ₫ 230,000$8.75 | similar |
| Coffeeone cup | ฿ 65$1.97 | ₫ 40,000$1.52 | Hanoi −23% |
| Beerone bottle | ฿ 80$2.42 | ₫ 30,000$1.14 | Hanoi −53% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | ฿ 210$6.36 | ₫ 78,000$2.97 | Hanoi −53% |
| Bottled water | ฿ 10$0.3 | ₫ 8,000$0.3 | similar |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | ฿ 25$0.76 | ₫ 20,000$0.76 | similar |
| Taxi5 km in town | ฿ 52$1.58 | ₫ 85,000$3.23 | Chiang Mai −51% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | ฿ 59$1.79 | ₫ 39,000$1.48 | Hanoi −17% |
| Transitone ride | ฿ 30$0.91 | ₫ 7,000$0.27 | Hanoi −71% |
| Scooter rentalper day | ฿ 240$7.27 | ₫ 160,000$6.08 | Hanoi −16% |
| Hotel night3-star | ฿ 1,000$30.3 | ₫ 800,000$30.4 | similar |
| Studio rent (month) | ฿ 9,000$273 | ₫ 12,000,000$456 | Chiang Mai −40% |
| Laundry | ฿ 44$1.33 | ₫ 32,000$1.22 | Hanoi −9% |
| SIM card1 week data | ฿ 240$7.27 | ₫ 160,000$6.08 | Hanoi −16% |
| Haircutcut | ฿ 110$3.33 | ₫ 91,000$3.46 | similar |
| Massage1 hour | ฿ 300$9.09 | ₫ 260,000$9.89 | Chiang Mai −8% |
| Half-day tourper person | ฿ 890$27 | ₫ 660,000$25.1 | Hanoi −7% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | ฿ 240$7.27 | ₫ 130,000$4.94 | Hanoi −32% |
Reference prices start as estimates from published price levels; items with 3+ traveler reports use the median of real reports. Hostels and local eateries cut both by 30%+.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Chiang Mai or Hanoi?
Chiang Mai is 25% cheaper than Hanoi. Daily budget $53.8 vs $57.8; a month $994 vs $1,422.
How do monthly costs compare between Chiang Mai and Hanoi?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Chiang Mai is about $994 and Hanoi about $1,422 per month.
Where do the numbers come from?
They start as estimates informed by published price levels; any item with 3+ traveler reports switches to the median of real reports. Live reports are in the app.