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: $2,013 in Ankeny, IA versus $861 in Chiang Mai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,887 in Ankeny, IA versus $1,350 in Chiang Mai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,760 in Ankeny, IA versus $1,838 in Chiang Mai.

Living in Ankeny, IA is roughly 134% more expensive than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ankeny, IA is 51% above, Chiang Mai is 36% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.70 $14.70

$1.96 ฿65.8

650.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$57.2 $57.2

$18.35 ฿617

211.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.22 $12.22

$7.48 ฿252

63.37%

Cappuccino

$5.97 $5.97

$2.02 ฿67.8

195.54%

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

$2.69 $2.69

$0.85 ฿28.50

216.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 $1.52

$0.36 ฿11.96

322.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.05 $5.05

$2.14 ฿71.8

135.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.92 $6.92

$3.59 ฿121

92.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.96 $0.96

$1.65 ฿55.5

-41.82%

White Bread (500g)

$2.44 $2.44

$1.57 ฿52.7

55.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.14 $2.14

$1.19 ฿40.02

79.83%

Eggs

$3.72 $3.72

$1.94 ฿65.1

91.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.69 $10.69

$16.19 ฿544

-33.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.91 $10.91

$2.99 ฿101

264.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.63 $14.63

$10.94 ฿368

33.73%

Apples (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$2.71 ฿91.2

61.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.93 $1.93

$1.17 ฿39.25

64.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.59 $4.59

$1.69 ฿56.7

171.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.53 $4.53

$1.60 ฿54.0

183.13%

Potato (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$1.38 ฿46.54

148.55%

Onion (1kg)

$3.38 $3.38

$1.20 ฿40.45

181.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 $1.02

$0.67 ฿22.50

52.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 $0.72

$0.56 ฿18.73

28.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.09 $9.09

$4.64 ฿156

95.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.23 $15.23

$17.62 ฿593

-13.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.86 ฿62.5

-4.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.37 $3.37

$3.30 ฿111

2.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.96 $1.96

$0.88 ฿29.68

122.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.99 $1.99

$1.36 ฿45.90

46.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.22 $2.22

$1.34 ฿44.98

65.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$20.36 $20.36

$8.21 ฿276

147.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$1.22 ฿41.18

-31.97%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$21.4K ฿718.1K

19.53%

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

$24.8K $24.8K

$22.5K ฿757.7K

9.96%

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

$147 $147

$70.7 ฿2,376

107.37%

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

$49.76 $49.76

$14.04 ฿472

254.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.3 $64.3

$17.49 ฿588

267.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.48 $42.48

$42.15 ฿1,417

0.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

Cinema Ticket

$15.24 $15.24

$5.92 ฿199

157.43%

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

$1,117 $1,117

$309 ฿10.4K

261.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.9K $11.9K

$14.9K ฿500.4K

-20.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.57 $49.57

$55.8 ฿1,875

-11.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.52 $35.52

$26.11 ฿878

36.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.1 $84.1

$83.0 ฿2,792

1.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$94.4 $94.4

$70.5 ฿2,369

33.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$932 $932

$432 ฿14.5K

115.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$917 $917

$239 ฿8,035

283.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,889 $1,889

$822 ฿27.7K

129.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,377 $1,377

$512 ฿17.2K

168.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,265 $5,265

$579 ฿19.5K

808.76%

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: July 14, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $932 in Ankeny, IA and $432 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ankeny, IA pays 809% 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: $57.0 in Ankeny, IA vs $18.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $338 vs $243 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 134% in total monthly costs ($2,013 vs $861 including rent). Chiang Mai is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 809% higher in Ankeny, IA, 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: $932 in Ankeny, IA versus $432 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 39% higher in Ankeny, IA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,013 per month in Ankeny, IA versus $861 in Chiang Mai – a 134% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $861 in Chiang Mai versus $2,013 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 134% less than in Ankeny, IA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.