😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,520 in Anacortes, WA versus $866 in Chiang Mai.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,709 in Anacortes, WA versus $1,351 in Chiang Mai.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,899 in Anacortes, WA versus $1,835 in Chiang Mai.
😐Living in Anacortes, WA is roughly 191% more expensive than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Anacortes, WA is 88% above, Chiang Mai is 35% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Anacortes, WA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.76$16.76
$1.94฿63.8
763.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$71.1$71.1
$18.64฿611
281.49%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.60$12.60
$7.82฿256
61.13%
Cappuccino
$5.23$5.23
$1.95฿64.1
168.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08$2.08
$0.85฿27.90
144.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81$1.81
$0.35฿11.64
417.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.99$4.99
$2.13฿69.9
134.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.92$4.92
$3.73฿122
31.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Anacortes, WA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.16$1.16
$1.71฿56.2
-32.16%
White Bread(500g)
$4.19$4.19
$1.63฿53.4
157.06%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$8.45$8.45
$1.14฿37.32
641.23%
Eggs
$4.38$4.38
$1.93฿63.4
126.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.68$11.68
$16.21฿532
-27.95%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.43$16.43
$3.12฿102
426.60%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.38$19.38
$10.90฿357
77.80%
Apples(1kg)
$5.14$5.14
$2.75฿90.4
86.91%
Banana(1kg)
$1.65$1.65
$1.21฿39.70
36.36%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.80$2.80
$1.62฿53.2
72.84%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.34$4.34
$1.59฿52.1
172.96%
Potato(1kg)
$1.46$1.46
$1.40฿45.91
4.29%
Onion(1kg)
$2.14$2.14
$1.17฿38.34
82.91%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.62$0.62
$0.66฿21.70
-6.06%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.03$2.03
$0.53฿17.30
283.02%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.83$10.83
$4.69฿154
130.92%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.44$14.44
$18.66฿612
-22.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77$1.77
$1.80฿59.0
-1.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48$2.48
$3.23฿106
-23.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Anacortes, WA
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.98$1.98
$0.90฿29.39
120.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$19.21฿630
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.53$2.53
$1.41฿46.13
79.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.71$1.71
$1.29฿42.31
32.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$30.16$30.16
$7.84฿257
284.69%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.09$1.09
$1.27฿41.77
-14.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.4K$37.4K
$21.3K฿698.1K
75.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.6K$27.6K
$22.2K฿728.8K
24.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Anacortes, WA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$170$170
$69.1฿2,266
146.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.63$37.63
$14.08฿462
167.26%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.0$55.0
$18.00฿591
205.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Anacortes, WA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.35$43.35
$41.06฿1,347
5.58%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.96฿228
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.54$15.54
$5.92฿194
162.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Anacortes, WA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,063$2,063
$299฿9,811
589.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$31.5K$31.5K
$15.0K฿490.6K
110.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Anacortes, WA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.33$49.33
$54.7฿1,795
-9.82%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.60$24.60
$26.77฿878
-8.11%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$65.7$65.7
$85.0฿2,788
-22.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$140$140
$70.6฿2,316
98.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Anacortes, WA
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,587$1,587
$428฿14.0K
270.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,340$1,340
$237฿7,787
464.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,660$2,660
$801฿26.3K
231.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,192$2,192
$515฿16.9K
325.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,715$2,715
$1,975฿64.8K
37.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,407$2,407
$1,475฿48.4K
63.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Anacortes, WA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$7,097$7,097
$617฿20.3K
1049.43%
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 Anacortes, WA: June 2, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,587 in Anacortes, WA and $428 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Anacortes, WA pays 1049% 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: $71.0 in Anacortes, WA vs $19.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $427 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
Anacortes, WA vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Anacortes, WA or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai wins on cost – living expenses run 191% lower than in Anacortes, WA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Chiang Mai the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Anacortes, WA or Chiang Mai?
Anacortes, WA pays 1049% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Anacortes, WA vs Chiang Mai?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,587 in Anacortes, WA versus $428 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Anacortes, WA and Chiang Mai?
Childcare runs $2,063 in Anacortes, WA versus $299 in Chiang Mai. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Anacortes, WA vs Chiang Mai?
Dining out is cheaper in Chiang Mai – a meal for two runs $19.00 versus $71.0 in Anacortes, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Anacortes, WA or Chiang Mai?
At $866 in Chiang Mai versus $2,520 in Anacortes, WA, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Anacortes, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Anacortes, WA or Chiang Mai?
Both work as nomad bases, but Chiang Mai delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $866 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Chiang Mai hard to pass up.
How safe is Anacortes, WA compared to Chiang Mai?
Safety-wise, Anacortes, 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Chiang Mai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 191% less than in Anacortes, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Anacortes, WA vs other spots: cost of living compared