Chiang Mai vs Taipei: cost of living for digital nomads

Chiang Mai, Thailand and Taipei, Taiwan, line by line from the catalogue: what a month costs, rent, food, coworking, safety and internet. Every figure links back to its source on the city page.

The short version

  • Chiang Mai is about 39% cheaper than Taipei for a month of nomad living ($1,100 vs $1,800).
  • Rent is the biggest gap: $400 in Chiang Mai against $800 in Taipei.
  • Taipei scores higher on safety (9/10 vs 8/10).
  • Internet is faster in Chiang Mai: 210 Mbps typical against 150 Mbps.
  • Both have a tropical climate.

Chiang Mai wins 7 of the measured lines; Taipei wins 1.

LineChiang MaiTaipei
Monthly total (USD)$1,100$1,800
Rent$400$800
Food$320$450
Transport$40$70
Coworking$100$150
Safety (out of 10)8/109/10
Internet (Mbps)210150
Climatetropicaltropical
City sizemidmetro
Settinginlandinland
Nomad score (out of 10)10/108/10

Compare Chiang Mai with

Compare Taipei with

Costs are typical monthly figures for one person in USD, from the sources named on each city page; safety and internet are the catalogue's own ratings. Check the city pages for the dates each was last verified.