Cost of Living Comparison Between Aliso Viejo, CA and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Aliso Viejo, CA and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,813 in Aliso Viejo, CA versus $847 in Chiang Mai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,539 in Aliso Viejo, CA versus $1,332 in Chiang Mai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,265 in Aliso Viejo, CA versus $1,816 in Chiang Mai.

Living in Aliso Viejo, CA is roughly 350% more expensive than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Aliso Viejo, CA is 185% above, Chiang Mai is 37% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.06 $25.06

$2.03 ฿68.5

1134.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.4 $99.4

$18.71 ฿631

431.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.07 $11.07

$7.84 ฿265

41.20%

Cappuccino

$5.57 $5.57

$1.93 ฿65.0

188.60%

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

$2.86 $2.86

$0.83 ฿28.05

244.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$0.35 ฿11.82

542.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.65 $8.65

$2.22 ฿74.9

289.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.92 $8.92

$3.79 ฿128

135.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$1.65 ฿55.5

-27.88%

White Bread (500g)

$4.31 $4.31

$1.55 ฿52.4

178.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.57 $4.57

$1.18 ฿39.86

287.29%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$2.01 ฿68.0

118.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.35 $12.35

$16.16 ฿545

-23.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.74 $11.74

$3.03 ฿102

287.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.30 $14.30

$10.84 ฿366

31.92%

Apples (1kg)

$6.54 $6.54

$2.68 ฿90.4

144.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.89 $1.89

$1.22 ฿41.21

54.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.79 $3.79

$1.63 ฿54.9

132.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.87 $4.87

$1.53 ฿51.6

218.30%

Potato (1kg)

$3.04 $3.04

$1.34 ฿45.18

126.87%

Onion (1kg)

$2.45 $2.45

$1.21 ฿40.93

102.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.91 $1.91

$0.70 ฿23.67

172.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 $2.07

$0.53 ฿17.73

290.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.52 $10.52

$4.69 ฿158

124.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.07 $15.07

$17.71 ฿598

-14.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.85 ฿62.3

-0.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.15 $3.15

$3.21 ฿108

-1.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.97 $2.97

$0.89 ฿30.07

233.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.76 ฿633

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.98 $3.98

$1.41 ฿47.48

182.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.09 $2.09

$1.29 ฿43.59

62.02%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.68 $29.68

$7.79 ฿263

281.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 $1.29

$1.29 ฿43.67

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

$28.1K $28.1K

$21.8K ฿734.7K

29.16%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$21.7K ฿732.1K

22.09%

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

$183 $183

$70.0 ฿2,362

160.82%

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

$55.4 $55.4

$14.19 ฿479

290.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.6 $70.6

$17.42 ฿588

305.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.32 $49.32

$41.64 ฿1,405

18.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.89 ฿233

Cinema Ticket

$18.21 $18.21

$5.78 ฿195

215.05%

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

$1,786 $1,786

$300 ฿10.1K

495.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.0K $24.0K

$14.5K ฿490.1K

65.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.7 $61.7

$55.4 ฿1,869

11.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.37 $46.37

$26.31 ฿888

76.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$84.8 ฿2,863

18.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$151 $151

$70.5 ฿2,379

114.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,847 $2,847

$425 ฿14.4K

569.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,523 $2,523

$235 ฿7,933

973.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,134 $4,134

$802 ฿27.1K

415.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,160 $4,160

$516 ฿17.4K

706.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,973 $6,973

$1,926 ฿65.0K

262.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,462 $6,462

$1,451 ฿49.0K

345.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,045 $8,045

$586 ฿19.8K

1272.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.49

29.80%

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

Last update for Aliso Viejo, CA: July 21, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,847 in Aliso Viejo, CA and $425 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Aliso Viejo, CA pays 1272% 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: $99.0 in Aliso Viejo, CA vs $19.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $405 vs $242 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

Aliso Viejo, CA vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Aliso Viejo, CA and Chiang Mai differ by about 350% in total monthly costs ($3,813 vs $847 including rent). Chiang Mai is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 1272% higher in Aliso Viejo, CA, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,847 in Aliso Viejo, CA versus $425 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 67% higher in Aliso Viejo, CA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,813 per month in Aliso Viejo, CA versus $847 in Chiang Mai – a 350% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $847 in Chiang Mai versus $3,813 in Aliso Viejo, CA, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Aliso Viejo, CA. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Aliso Viejo, CA 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.

Expats usually find Chiang Mai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 350% less than in Aliso Viejo, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.