ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $2,270 in Ashland, OH versus $845 in Chiang Mai.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $2,895 in Ashland, OH versus $1,323 in Chiang Mai.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,520 in Ashland, OH versus $1,802 in Chiang Mai.
ðLiving in Ashland, OH is roughly 169% more expensive than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Getting Around.
ðThe two cities straddle the global median: Ashland, OH is 69% above, Chiang Mai is 37% below.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Ashland, OH
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.39$8.39
$1.95āļŋ62.8
330.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.42$38.42
$18.43āļŋ594
108.46%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.28$8.28
$7.50āļŋ241
10.40%
Cappuccino
$3.63$3.63
$1.93āļŋ62.3
88.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70$1.70
$0.78āļŋ25.08
117.95%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27$1.27
$0.32āļŋ10.42
296.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.06$5.06
$2.15āļŋ69.2
135.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.93$4.93
$3.71āļŋ120
32.88%
ð Groceries & Markets
Ashland, OH
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.81$0.81
$1.71āļŋ55.2
-52.63%
White Bread(500g)
$2.23$2.23
$1.56āļŋ50.3
42.95%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.83$2.83
$1.18āļŋ38.06
139.83%
Eggs
$2.61$2.61
$1.98āļŋ63.9
31.82%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.44$11.44
$16.04āļŋ517
-28.68%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.59$8.59
$3.17āļŋ102
170.98%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.50$13.50
$10.94āļŋ353
23.40%
Apples(1kg)
$3.63$3.63
$2.63āļŋ84.7
38.02%
Banana(1kg)
$1.14$1.14
$1.17āļŋ37.61
-2.56%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.28$3.28
$1.65āļŋ53.0
98.79%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.64$3.64
$1.54āļŋ49.51
136.36%
Potato(1kg)
$1.67$1.67
$1.38āļŋ44.34
21.01%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03$2.03
$1.17āļŋ37.54
73.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.13$2.13
$0.66āļŋ21.25
222.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.48$1.48
$0.51āļŋ16.55
190.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.89$9.89
$4.52āļŋ146
118.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.79$7.79
$18.32āļŋ590
-57.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.98$1.98
$1.80āļŋ57.9
10.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55$2.55
$3.18āļŋ102
-19.81%
ð Getting Around
Ashland, OH
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.94$2.94
$0.90āļŋ28.97
226.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$197$197
$19.00āļŋ612
936.11%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.47$2.47
$1.41āļŋ45.50
75.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.32$1.32
$1.31āļŋ42.15
0.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.21$18.21
$8.09āļŋ261
125.09%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.82$0.82
$1.28āļŋ41.08
-35.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K$28.0K
$21.3Kāļŋ686.1K
31.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.3K$25.3K
$21.7Kāļŋ699.3K
16.53%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ashland, OH
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$162$162
$69.2āļŋ2,230
134.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.17$33.17
$13.97āļŋ450
137.44%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.1$65.1
$17.95āļŋ578
262.67%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Ashland, OH
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$33.59$33.59
$42.31āļŋ1,363
-20.61%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.66āļŋ214
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.56$8.56
$5.92āļŋ191
44.59%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Ashland, OH
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,480$1,480
$299āļŋ9,640
394.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.3K$14.3K
$14.8Kāļŋ478.4K
-3.63%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Ashland, OH
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.02$44.02
$56.2āļŋ1,810
-21.66%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.75$39.75
$26.94āļŋ868
47.55%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$69.2$69.2
$84.9āļŋ2,735
-18.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$67.3$67.3
$71.8āļŋ2,314
-6.28%
ð Accommodation & Living
Ashland, OH
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$635$635
$435āļŋ14.0K
45.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,134$1,134
$240āļŋ7,727
372.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$875$875
$798āļŋ25.7K
9.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,243$1,243
$498āļŋ16.1K
149.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,786$1,786
$1,995āļŋ64.3K
-10.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,908$1,908
$1,532āļŋ49.4K
24.57%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Ashland, OH
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,333$3,333
$628āļŋ20.2K
430.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.51
5
30.20%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ashland, OH: April 20, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $635 in Ashland, OH and $435 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ð°Ashland, OH pays 431% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
ðDining out: $38 in Ashland, OH vs $18 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $244 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
Ashland, OH vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ashland, OH or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai wins on cost â living expenses run 169% lower than in Ashland, OH. 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 Ashland, OH or Chiang Mai?
Ashland, OH pays 431% 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 Ashland, OH vs Chiang Mai?
Rent for a central apartment: $635 in Ashland, OH versus $435 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Ashland, OH vs Chiang Mai?
Dining out is cheaper in Chiang Mai â a meal for two runs $18.00 versus $38.00 in Ashland, OH. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Ashland, OH compared to Chiang Mai?
All in, you'll spend $2,270 per month in Ashland, OH versus $845 in Chiang Mai â a 169% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ashland, OH or Chiang Mai?
At $845 in Chiang Mai versus $2,270 in Ashland, OH, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Ashland, OH. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ashland, OH or Chiang Mai?
Both work as nomad bases, but Chiang Mai delivers better value â similar infrastructure at $845 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Chiang Mai hard to pass up.
How safe is Ashland, OH compared to Chiang Mai?
Safety-wise, Ashland, OH 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 â expenses run 169% less than in Ashland, OH. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Ashland, OH vs other spots: cost of living compared