Cost of Living Comparison Between Augusta, GA and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Augusta, GA and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,472 in Augusta, GA versus $869 in Chiang Mai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,418 in Augusta, GA versus $1,362 in Chiang Mai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,363 in Augusta, GA versus $1,855 in Chiang Mai.

Living in Augusta, GA is roughly 185% more expensive than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Augusta, GA is 84% above, Chiang Mai is 35% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.57 $16.57

$1.98 ฿64.3

736.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$77.1 $77.1

$18.80 ฿612

310.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.14 $10.14

$7.75 ฿252

30.84%

Cappuccino

$4.89 $4.89

$1.92 ฿62.5

154.69%

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

$2.67 $2.67

$0.79 ฿25.79

237.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 $1.94

$0.36 ฿11.62

438.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.58 $5.58

$2.21 ฿72.1

152.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.39 $6.39

$3.66 ฿119

74.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$1.65 ฿53.8

-49.70%

White Bread (500g)

$2.22 $2.22

$1.63 ฿53.2

36.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.06 $5.06

$1.19 ฿38.86

325.21%

Eggs

$3.83 $3.83

$2.00 ฿65.1

91.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.48 $8.48

$15.98 ฿520

-46.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.39 $10.39

$3.03 ฿98.5

242.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.72 $12.72

$10.86 ฿354

17.13%

Apples (1kg)

$4.23 $4.23

$2.76 ฿90.0

53.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 $1.49

$1.18 ฿38.42

26.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$1.64 ฿53.5

131.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.37 $3.37

$1.52 ฿49.51

121.71%

Potato (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.38 ฿45.10

104.35%

Onion (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$1.19 ฿38.84

131.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.88 $1.88

$0.70 ฿22.86

168.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$0.56 ฿18.13

301.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.59 $7.59

$4.58 ฿149

65.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.89 $8.89

$16.56 ฿539

-46.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.83 ฿59.5

-3.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.32 $5.32

$3.20 ฿104

66.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.03 $2.03

$0.88 ฿28.56

130.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.28 $39.28

$18.72 ฿610

109.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.99 $1.99

$1.36 ฿44.16

46.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.25 $1.25

$1.34 ฿43.65

-6.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.65 $23.65

$7.84 ฿256

201.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 $0.78

$1.23 ฿39.92

-36.59%

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

$27.4K $27.4K

$21.6K ฿704.3K

26.79%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$22.5K ฿734.3K

15.23%

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

$195 $195

$70.5 ฿2,298

176.11%

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

$55.6 $55.6

$13.68 ฿445

306.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.2 $70.2

$17.45 ฿568

302.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.53 $27.53

$41.33 ฿1,346

-33.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$14.72 $14.72

$5.77 ฿188

155.11%

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

$933 $933

$307 ฿10.0K

203.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.5K $25.5K

$14.6K ฿475.9K

74.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$34.17 $34.17

$55.8 ฿1,817

-38.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.65 $37.65

$26.21 ฿854

43.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.6 $72.6

$85.8 ฿2,793

-15.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.5 $82.5

$72.2 ฿2,353

14.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,255 $1,255

$430 ฿14.0K

191.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,307 $1,307

$239 ฿7,774

447.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,643 $1,643

$817 ฿26.6K

101.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,854 $1,854

$511 ฿16.6K

263.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,690 $1,690

$1,983 ฿64.6K

-14.79%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,675 $1,675

$1,484 ฿48.3K

12.90%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,144 $3,144

$619 ฿20.2K

408.12%

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 Augusta, GA: June 8, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,255 in Augusta, GA and $430 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Augusta, GA pays 408% 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: $77.0 in Augusta, GA vs $19.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $329 vs $241 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

Augusta, GA vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 185% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Augusta, GA pays 408% 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: $1,255 in Augusta, GA versus $430 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 37% higher in Augusta, GA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Chiang Mai – a meal for two runs $19.00 versus $77.0 in Augusta, GA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $869 in Chiang Mai versus $2,472 in Augusta, GA, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Augusta, GA. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Chiang Mai is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Augusta, GA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Augusta, GA 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 185% less than in Augusta, GA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.