Cost of Living Comparison Between Bakersfield, CA and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Bakersfield, CA and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,081 in Bakersfield, CA versus $932 in Chiang Mai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,378 in Bakersfield, CA versus $1,399 in Chiang Mai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,675 in Bakersfield, CA versus $1,866 in Chiang Mai.

Living in Bakersfield, CA is roughly 230% more expensive than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Bakersfield, CA is 125% above, Chiang Mai is 32% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.69 $18.69

$2.08 ฿69.5

798.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.7 $64.7

$19.61 ฿655

229.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.22 $14.22

$5.67 ฿189

150.79%

Cappuccino

$5.81 $5.81

$1.81 ฿60.3

220.99%

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

$2.71 $2.71

$0.77 ฿25.65

251.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 $1.94

$0.35 ฿11.53

454.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.01 $6.01

$2.21 ฿73.9

171.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.90 $5.90

$3.79 ฿127

55.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 $1.12

$2.05 ฿68.4

-45.37%

White Bread (500g)

$4.11 $4.11

$1.51 ฿50.6

172.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.23 $5.23

$1.40 ฿46.69

273.57%

Eggs

$3.40 $3.40

$2.26 ฿75.4

50.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.98 $12.98

$16.19 ฿540

-19.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.30 $13.30

$2.90 ฿96.7

358.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.10 $16.10

$9.42 ฿314

70.91%

Apples (1kg)

$3.95 $3.95

$2.68 ฿89.4

47.39%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 $2.00

$1.09 ฿36.37

83.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.99 $3.99

$1.62 ฿54.0

146.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.97 $3.97

$1.46 ฿48.74

171.92%

Potato (1kg)

$2.10 $2.10

$1.28 ฿42.65

64.06%

Onion (1kg)

$2.44 $2.44

$1.06 ฿35.31

130.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.03 $2.03

$0.72 ฿23.94

181.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.49 $2.49

$0.53 ฿17.56

369.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.81 $9.81

$4.23 ฿141

131.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.06 $18.06

$18.29 ฿611

-1.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.63 ฿54.4

20.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.79 $4.79

$2.90 ฿96.8

65.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.66 $1.66

$0.88 ฿29.32

88.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$56.2 $56.2

$53.8 ฿1,795

4.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.92 $2.92

$1.17 ฿39.14

149.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.11 $2.11

$0.58 ฿19.30

263.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 $1.47

$1.45 ฿48.41

1.38%

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

$36.9K $36.9K

$21.0K ฿701.4K

75.60%

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

$27.2K $27.2K

$26.4K ฿882.0K

2.95%

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

$391 $391

$63.7 ฿2,125

514.56%

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

$58.7 $58.7

$12.89 ฿430

355.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.5 $73.5

$20.52 ฿685

257.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.46 $39.46

$39.02 ฿1,302

1.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.52 $24.52

$3.92 ฿131

525.51%

Cinema Ticket

$14.83 $14.83

$6.58 ฿220

125.38%

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

$1,521 $1,521

$784 ฿26.2K

94.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.1 $62.1

$55.1 ฿1,840

12.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.32 $48.32

$24.74 ฿826

95.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 $99.6

$94.1 ฿3,142

5.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 $122

$74.0 ฿2,469

65.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,701 $1,701

$490 ฿16.4K

246.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,561 $1,561

$288 ฿9,620

441.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,395 $2,395

$891 ฿29.8K

168.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,427 $2,427

$521 ฿17.4K

365.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,491 $2,491

$1,974 ฿65.9K

26.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,514 $2,514

$1,444 ฿48.2K

74.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,660 $3,660

$602 ฿20.1K

508.44%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.36

5.57

14.18%

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

Last update for Bakersfield, CA: September 13, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,701 in Bakersfield, CA and $490 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bakersfield, CA pays 508% 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: $65.0 in Bakersfield, CA vs $20.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $413 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

Bakersfield, CA vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 230% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 508% higher in Bakersfield, CA, 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: $1,701 in Bakersfield, CA versus $490 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Chiang Mai – a meal for two runs $20.00 versus $65.0 in Bakersfield, CA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,081 per month in Bakersfield, CA versus $932 in Chiang Mai – a 230% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $932 in Chiang Mai versus $3,081 in Bakersfield, CA, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Bakersfield, CA. 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 Bakersfield, CA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Bakersfield, CA 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 230% less than in Bakersfield, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.