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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,164 in Augusta, ME versus $869 in Chiang Mai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,209 in Augusta, ME versus $1,362 in Chiang Mai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,255 in Augusta, ME versus $1,855 in Chiang Mai.

Living in Augusta, ME is roughly 149% more expensive than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Augusta, ME is 61% above, Chiang Mai is 35% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.97 $19.97

$1.98 ฿64.3

908.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.5 $75.5

$18.80 ฿612

301.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.67 $7.67

$7.75 ฿252

-1.03%

Cappuccino

$4.90 $4.90

$1.92 ฿62.5

155.21%

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

$2.38 $2.38

$0.79 ฿25.79

201.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 $1.93

$0.36 ฿11.62

436.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.96 $4.96

$2.21 ฿72.1

124.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.01 $6.01

$3.66 ฿119

64.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.65 ฿53.8

-30.91%

White Bread (500g)

$3.58 $3.58

$1.63 ฿53.2

119.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.19 ฿38.86

54.62%

Eggs

$3.68 $3.68

$2.00 ฿65.1

84.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.94 $16.94

$15.98 ฿520

6.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.15 $12.15

$3.03 ฿98.5

300.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.87 $18.87

$10.86 ฿354

73.76%

Apples (1kg)

$4.45 $4.45

$2.76 ฿90.0

61.23%

Banana (1kg)

$1.32 $1.32

$1.18 ฿38.42

11.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.06 $3.06

$1.64 ฿53.5

86.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.55 $6.55

$1.52 ฿49.51

330.92%

Potato (1kg)

$2.23 $2.23

$1.38 ฿45.10

61.59%

Onion (1kg)

$3.32 $3.32

$1.19 ฿38.84

178.99%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$0.70 ฿22.86

310.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 $1.46

$0.56 ฿18.13

160.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.84 $8.84

$4.58 ฿149

93.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.87 $14.87

$16.56 ฿539

-10.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.91 $2.91

$1.83 ฿59.5

59.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 $2.05

$3.20 ฿104

-35.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.06 $2.06

$0.88 ฿28.56

134.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.36 ฿44.16

86.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.28 $1.28

$1.34 ฿43.65

-4.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.23 $28.23

$7.84 ฿256

260.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$1.23 ฿39.92

-30.08%

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

$30.0K $30.0K

$21.6K ฿704.3K

38.66%

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

$25.3K $25.3K

$22.5K ฿734.3K

12.14%

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

$195 $195

$70.5 ฿2,298

176.96%

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

$58.4 $58.4

$13.68 ฿445

327.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$77.3 $77.3

$17.45 ฿568

342.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.03 $30.03

$41.33 ฿1,346

-27.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$13.23 $13.23

$5.77 ฿188

129.29%

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

$2,794 $2,794

$307 ฿10.0K

809.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$27.9K $27.9K

$14.6K ฿475.9K

91.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.7 $67.7

$55.8 ฿1,817

21.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.37 $45.37

$26.21 ฿854

73.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.4 $86.4

$85.8 ฿2,793

0.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$149 $149

$72.2 ฿2,353

106.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,061 $1,061

$430 ฿14.0K

146.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$958 $958

$239 ฿7,774

301.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,611 $1,611

$817 ฿26.6K

97.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,464 $1,464

$511 ฿16.6K

186.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,358 $2,358

$1,983 ฿64.6K

18.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,348 $2,348

$1,484 ฿48.3K

58.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,001 $2,001

$619 ฿20.2K

223.30%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.43

28.60%

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

Last update for Augusta, ME: June 8, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,061 in Augusta, ME and $430 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Augusta, ME pays 223% 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: $75.0 in Augusta, ME vs $19.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $403 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, ME vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Augusta, ME and Chiang Mai differ by about 149% in total monthly costs ($2,164 vs $869 including rent). Chiang Mai is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Augusta, ME pays 223% 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: $1,061 in Augusta, ME versus $430 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,794 in Augusta, ME versus $307 in Chiang Mai. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Chiang Mai – a meal for two runs $19.00 versus $75.0 in Augusta, ME. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $869 in Chiang Mai versus $2,164 in Augusta, ME, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Augusta, ME. 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, Augusta, ME 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 149% less than in Augusta, ME. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.