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 75.6% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 138.9% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Ames, IA is 116.3% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 142.3% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.25 $18.25

$2.01 ฿64.4

807.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.31 $44.31

$18.23 ฿583

143.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.79 $8.79

$7.65 ฿244

14.90%

Cappuccino

$5.26 $5.26

$1.92 ฿61.3

173.96%

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

$1.97 $1.97

$0.84 ฿26.90

134.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

$0.36 ฿11.39

391.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.08 $3.08

$2.19 ฿70.0

40.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.19 $7.19

$3.79 ฿121

89.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.64 ฿52.4

-42.07%

White Bread (500g)

$3.69 $3.69

$1.62 ฿51.8

127.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.02 $3.02

$1.15 ฿36.88

162.61%

Eggs

$3.21 $3.21

$1.94 ฿62.0

65.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.63 $9.63

$15.94 ฿510

-39.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.85 $11.85

$3.10 ฿99.2

282.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.08 $14.08

$11.07 ฿354

27.19%

Apples (1kg)

$5.16 $5.16

$2.71 ฿86.5

90.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 $1.16

$1.18 ฿37.69

-1.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.91 $5.91

$1.71 ฿54.5

245.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.28 $5.28

$1.61 ฿51.3

227.95%

Potato (1kg)

$3.94 $3.94

$1.39 ฿44.53

183.45%

Onion (1kg)

$3.81 $3.81

$1.15 ฿36.70

231.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.03 $2.03

$0.71 ฿22.76

185.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.98 $1.98

$0.55 ฿17.60

260.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.93 $8.93

$4.57 ฿146

95.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.86 $15.86

$18.87 ฿603

-15.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.82 ฿58.2

-7.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.49 $4.49

$3.21 ฿103

39.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$0.88 ฿28.16

72.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$47.05 $47.05

$18.89 ฿604

149.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.89 $4.89

$1.41 ฿45.17

246.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.41 $1.41

$1.30 ฿41.59

8.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$50.4 $50.4

$8.20 ฿262

514.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$1.23 ฿39.18

-29.27%

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

$25.3K $25.3K

$21.2K ฿677.0K

19.53%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$22.3K ฿713.3K

16.21%

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

$194 $194

$69.9 ฿2,234

177.11%

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

$48.05 $48.05

$14.07 ฿450

241.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.1 $74.1

$17.70 ฿566

318.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.4 $69.4

$41.41 ฿1,324

67.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.15 $20.15

$6.69 ฿214

201.20%

Cinema Ticket

$14.09 $14.09

$5.74 ฿184

145.47%

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

$1,475 $1,475

$299 ฿9,566

392.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.7K $29.7K

$15.0K ฿479.8K

97.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$38.98 $38.98

$54.8 ฿1,753

-28.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.38 $41.38

$26.35 ฿842

57.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 $84.5

$84.7 ฿2,706

-0.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 $114

$69.7 ฿2,229

62.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$967 $967

$427 ฿13.6K

126.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$822 $822

$241 ฿7,697

241.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,951 $1,951

$811 ฿25.9K

140.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,641 $1,641

$498 ฿15.9K

229.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,388 $2,388

$2,022 ฿64.7K

18.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,239 $2,239

$1,524 ฿48.7K

46.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,693 $3,693

$639 ฿20.4K

477.79%

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: April 12, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 13, 2026

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

Ames, IA vs other spots: cost of living compared

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