Cost of Living Comparison Between Ames, IA and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Ames, IA and Chiang Mai

😐 Solo nomad: Ames, IA is 114.8% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 144.9% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Ames, IA is 101.3% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 138.9% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.04 $18.04

$2.03 ฿64.2

788.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.45 $44.45

$18.59 ฿588

139.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.27 $9.27

$7.48 ฿237

23.93%

Cappuccino

$5.01 $5.01

$2.00 ฿63.2

150.50%

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

$1.99 $1.99

$0.85 ฿26.81

134.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.79 $1.79

$0.35 ฿11.13

411.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.02 $3.02

$2.21 ฿70.0

36.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.81 $6.81

$3.76 ฿119

81.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.72 ฿54.4

-44.77%

White Bread (500g)

$3.76 $3.76

$1.63 ฿51.7

130.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.05 $3.05

$1.16 ฿36.66

162.93%

Eggs

$3.23 $3.23

$1.98 ฿62.6

63.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.45 $9.45

$15.93 ฿504

-40.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.82 $11.82

$3.17 ฿100

272.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.53 $14.53

$10.90 ฿345

33.30%

Apples (1kg)

$5.01 $5.01

$2.65 ฿83.7

89.06%

Banana (1kg)

$1.20 $1.20

$1.22 ฿38.70

-1.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.91 $5.91

$1.70 ฿53.7

247.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.05 $5.05

$1.59 ฿50.3

217.61%

Potato (1kg)

$3.76 $3.76

$1.32 ฿41.90

184.85%

Onion (1kg)

$3.65 $3.65

$1.17 ฿36.99

211.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.05 $2.05

$0.68 ฿21.46

201.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 $1.92

$0.56 ฿17.64

242.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.26 $9.26

$4.51 ฿143

105.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.21 $16.21

$19.07 ฿604

-15.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.77 ฿56.0

-3.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.54 $4.54

$3.18 ฿101

42.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.53 $1.53

$0.96 ฿30.47

59.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$47.13 $47.13

$18.90 ฿598

149.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.93 $4.93

$1.36 ฿42.98

262.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.35 ฿42.80

5.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$49.24 $49.24

$8.03 ฿254

513.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 $0.82

$1.24 ฿39.34

-33.87%

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

$24.6K $24.6K

$21.2K ฿669.8K

16.11%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$21.8K ฿688.5K

17.95%

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

$192 $192

$71.2 ฿2,255

168.94%

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

$49.44 $49.44

$14.09 ฿446

250.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.7 $73.7

$17.47 ฿553

321.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.5 $68.5

$42.07 ฿1,332

62.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.04 $20.04

$6.88 ฿218

191.28%

Cinema Ticket

$13.79 $13.79

$5.94 ฿188

132.15%

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

$1,451 $1,451

$307 ฿9,728

372.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.5K $30.5K

$14.8K ฿468.2K

106.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$38.73 $38.73

$55.7 ฿1,762

-30.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.64 $42.64

$26.79 ฿848

59.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.1 $84.1

$83.2 ฿2,634

1.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 $113

$70.1 ฿2,219

60.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$969 $969

$427 ฿13.5K

126.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$812 $812

$237 ฿7,504

242.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,908 $1,908

$802 ฿25.4K

138.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,637 $1,637

$503 ฿15.9K

225.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,421 $2,421

$2,061 ฿65.2K

17.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,185 $2,185

$1,533 ฿48.5K

42.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,699 $3,699

$654 ฿20.7K

465.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.02

20.40%

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

Last update for Ames, IA: March 1, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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