😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,969 in Aberdeen, WA versus $866 in Chiang Mai.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,985 in Aberdeen, WA versus $1,351 in Chiang Mai.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,001 in Aberdeen, WA versus $1,835 in Chiang Mai.
😐Living in Aberdeen, WA is roughly 127% more expensive than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Aberdeen, WA is 47% above, Chiang Mai is 35% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Aberdeen, WA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.71$20.71
$1.94฿63.5
967.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$101$101
$18.64฿609
439.48%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.95$11.95
$7.82฿255
52.81%
Cappuccino
$4.89$4.89
$1.95฿63.8
150.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78$1.78
$0.85฿27.77
109.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47$2.47
$0.35฿11.58
605.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.07$6.07
$2.13฿69.6
184.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.10$5.10
$3.73฿122
36.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Aberdeen, WA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.12$1.12
$1.71฿56.0
-34.50%
White Bread(500g)
$2.72$2.72
$1.63฿53.2
66.87%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.74$2.74
$1.14฿37.15
140.35%
Eggs
$5.00$5.00
$1.93฿63.1
159.07%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.13$10.13
$16.21฿530
-37.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.80$6.80
$3.12฿102
117.95%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.11$9.11
$10.90฿356
-16.42%
Apples(1kg)
$5.26$5.26
$2.75฿90.0
91.27%
Banana(1kg)
$1.88$1.88
$1.21฿39.52
55.37%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.63$5.63
$1.62฿53.0
247.53%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.99$5.99
$1.59฿51.8
276.73%
Potato(1kg)
$2.81$2.81
$1.40฿45.70
100.71%
Onion(1kg)
$3.48$3.48
$1.17฿38.17
197.44%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.94$2.94
$0.66฿21.60
345.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.88$1.88
$0.53฿17.22
254.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.68$11.68
$4.69฿153
149.04%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.10$13.10
$18.66฿609
-29.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78$1.78
$1.80฿58.8
-1.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52$2.52
$3.23฿106
-21.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Aberdeen, WA
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.02$1.02
$0.90฿29.26
13.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$19.21฿628
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.61$5.61
$1.41฿45.91
297.87%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.78$0.78
$1.29฿42.12
-39.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.66$28.66
$7.84฿256
265.56%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.17$1.17
$1.27฿41.58
-7.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.6K$30.6K
$21.3K฿694.9K
43.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K$25.7K
$22.2K฿725.4K
15.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aberdeen, WA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$159$159
$69.1฿2,256
130.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.0$52.0
$14.08฿460
269.60%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.3$71.3
$18.00฿588
296.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Aberdeen, WA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$30.86$30.86
$41.06฿1,341
-24.84%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.96฿227
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.05$5.05
$5.92฿193
-14.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Aberdeen, WA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,017$1,017
$299฿9,766
240.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$30.6K$30.6K
$15.0K฿488.3K
104.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Aberdeen, WA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.29$45.29
$54.7฿1,787
-17.20%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.66$28.66
$26.77฿874
7.06%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$64.7$64.7
$85.0฿2,776
-23.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115$115
$70.6฿2,306
62.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Aberdeen, WA
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,082$1,082
$428฿14.0K
152.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$910$910
$237฿7,752
283.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,739$1,739
$801฿26.2K
117.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,380$1,380
$515฿16.8K
167.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,993$2,993
$1,975฿64.5K
51.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,936$2,936
$1,475฿48.2K
99.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Aberdeen, WA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,371$4,371
$617฿20.2K
607.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.51
5
30.20%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Aberdeen, WA: June 1, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,082 in Aberdeen, WA and $428 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Aberdeen, WA pays 608% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $101 in Aberdeen, WA vs $19.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $341 vs $246 per month, with Chiang Mai cheaper across the board.
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
Aberdeen, WA vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chiang Mai cheaper than Aberdeen, WA?
Chiang Mai is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear. The 127% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Aberdeen, WA or Chiang Mai?
Aberdeen, WA pays 608% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Aberdeen, WA and Chiang Mai?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,082 in Aberdeen, WA versus $428 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $1,017 in Aberdeen, WA versus $299 in Chiang Mai. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Aberdeen, WA or Chiang Mai?
Dining out is cheaper in Chiang Mai – a meal for two runs $19.00 versus $101 in Aberdeen, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Aberdeen, WA or Chiang Mai?
At $866 in Chiang Mai versus $1,969 in Aberdeen, WA, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Aberdeen, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Aberdeen, WA or Chiang Mai more family-friendly?
For families, Chiang Mai is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Aberdeen, WA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Aberdeen, WA or Chiang Mai?
Safety-wise, Aberdeen, WA and Chiang Mai are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Chiang Mai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 127% less than in Aberdeen, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Aberdeen, WA vs other spots: cost of living compared