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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,993 in Ankeny, IA versus $866 in Chiang Mai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,892 in Ankeny, IA versus $1,351 in Chiang Mai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,790 in Ankeny, IA versus $1,835 in Chiang Mai.

Living in Ankeny, IA is roughly 130% more expensive than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ankeny, IA is 49% above, Chiang Mai is 35% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.25 $15.25

$1.94 ฿63.6

686.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$57.7 $57.7

$18.64 ฿609

209.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.81 $11.81

$7.82 ฿256

51.02%

Cappuccino

$6.17 $6.17

$1.95 ฿63.9

216.41%

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

$2.57 $2.57

$0.85 ฿27.80

202.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 $1.57

$0.35 ฿11.60

348.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.09 $5.09

$2.13 ฿69.7

138.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.11 $7.11

$3.73 ฿122

90.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.91 $0.91

$1.71 ฿56.0

-46.78%

White Bread (500g)

$2.44 $2.44

$1.63 ฿53.3

49.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.25 $2.25

$1.14 ฿37.18

97.37%

Eggs

$3.63 $3.63

$1.93 ฿63.2

88.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.90 $10.90

$16.21 ฿530

-32.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.94 $10.94

$3.12 ฿102

250.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.32 $14.32

$10.90 ฿356

31.38%

Apples (1kg)

$4.52 $4.52

$2.75 ฿90.1

64.36%

Banana (1kg)

$2.02 $2.02

$1.21 ฿39.56

66.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.86 $4.86

$1.62 ฿53.0

200.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.53 $4.53

$1.59 ฿51.9

184.91%

Potato (1kg)

$3.59 $3.59

$1.40 ฿45.75

156.43%

Onion (1kg)

$3.33 $3.33

$1.17 ฿38.20

184.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.66 ฿21.62

57.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.67 $0.67

$0.53 ฿17.24

26.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.01 $9.01

$4.69 ฿153

92.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.30 $15.30

$18.66 ฿610

-18.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 $1.68

$1.80 ฿58.8

-6.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.41 $3.41

$3.23 ฿106

5.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.97 $1.97

$0.90 ฿29.28

118.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.99 $1.99

$1.41 ฿45.96

41.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.16 $2.16

$1.29 ฿42.16

67.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$20.24 $20.24

$7.84 ฿256

158.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$1.27 ฿41.62

-34.65%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$21.3K ฿695.5K

23.29%

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

$24.1K $24.1K

$22.2K ฿726.1K

8.49%

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

$146 $146

$69.1 ฿2,258

111.87%

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

$49.88 $49.88

$14.08 ฿460

254.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.9 $62.9

$18.00 ฿588

249.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.89 $42.89

$41.06 ฿1,342

4.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$15.13 $15.13

$5.92 ฿193

155.57%

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

$1,088 $1,088

$299 ฿9,775

263.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.7K $11.7K

$15.0K ฿488.8K

-21.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.04 $49.04

$54.7 ฿1,788

-10.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.51 $34.51

$26.77 ฿875

28.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 $84.5

$85.0 ฿2,778

-0.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$94.0 $94.0

$70.6 ฿2,308

33.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$924 $924

$428 ฿14.0K

115.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$916 $916

$237 ฿7,759

286.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,850 $1,850

$801 ฿26.2K

130.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,353 $1,353

$515 ฿16.9K

162.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,274 $5,274

$617 ฿20.2K

754.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.54

30.80%

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

Last update for Ankeny, IA: May 31, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $924 in Ankeny, IA and $428 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ankeny, IA pays 754% 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: $58.0 in Ankeny, IA vs $19.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $340 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

Ankeny, IA vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ankeny, IA and Chiang Mai differ by about 130% in total monthly costs ($1,993 vs $866 including rent). Chiang Mai is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Ankeny, IA pays 754% more on average, 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: $924 in Ankeny, IA versus $428 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 38% higher in Ankeny, IA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,993 per month in Ankeny, IA versus $866 in Chiang Mai – a 130% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $866 in Chiang Mai versus $1,993 in Ankeny, IA, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Ankeny, IA. 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, Ankeny, IA 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 130% less than in Ankeny, IA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.