Cost of Living Comparison Between Baraboo, WI and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Baraboo, WI and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,363 in Baraboo, WI versus $866 in Chiang Mai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,201 in Baraboo, WI versus $1,351 in Chiang Mai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,038 in Baraboo, WI versus $1,835 in Chiang Mai.

Living in Baraboo, WI is roughly 173% more expensive than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Baraboo, WI is 76% above, Chiang Mai is 35% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.89 $14.89

$1.94 ฿63.8

667.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.11 $40.11

$18.64 ฿611

115.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.64 $11.64

$7.82 ฿256

48.85%

Cappuccino

$4.93 $4.93

$1.95 ฿64.1

152.82%

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

$1.53 $1.53

$0.85 ฿27.90

80.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.54 $1.54

$0.35 ฿11.64

340.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.87 $4.87

$2.13 ฿69.9

128.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.42 $3.42

$3.73 ฿122

-8.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$1.71 ฿56.2

-49.71%

White Bread (500g)

$3.11 $3.11

$1.63 ฿53.4

90.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.30 $3.30

$1.14 ฿37.32

189.47%

Eggs

$2.92 $2.92

$1.93 ฿63.4

51.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.57 $7.57

$16.21 ฿532

-53.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.43 $11.43

$3.12 ฿102

266.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.37 $11.37

$10.90 ฿357

4.31%

Apples (1kg)

$3.84 $3.84

$2.75 ฿90.4

39.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.24 $1.24

$1.21 ฿39.70

2.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.94 $2.94

$1.62 ฿53.2

81.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.55 $3.55

$1.59 ฿52.1

123.27%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 $1.23

$1.40 ฿45.91

-12.14%

Onion (1kg)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.17 ฿38.34

111.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.69 $1.69

$0.66 ฿21.70

156.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.12 $2.12

$0.53 ฿17.30

300.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.57 $11.57

$4.69 ฿154

146.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.03 $8.03

$18.66 ฿612

-56.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.80 ฿59.0

-5.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.37 $3.37

$3.23 ฿106

4.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.95 $1.95

$0.90 ฿29.39

116.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿630

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.59 $3.59

$1.41 ฿46.13

154.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 $1.63

$1.29 ฿42.31

26.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.98 $28.98

$7.84 ฿257

269.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.93 $0.93

$1.27 ฿41.77

-26.77%

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

$24.1K $24.1K

$21.3K ฿698.1K

13.48%

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

$25.8K $25.8K

$22.2K ฿728.8K

16.05%

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

$173 $173

$69.1 ฿2,266

150.90%

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

$51.7 $51.7

$14.08 ฿462

267.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.4 $51.4

$18.00 ฿591

185.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.66 $28.66

$41.06 ฿1,347

-30.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿228

Cinema Ticket

$11.08 $11.08

$5.92 ฿194

87.16%

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

$1,340 $1,340

$299 ฿9,811

347.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.1K $23.1K

$15.0K ฿490.6K

54.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.26 $45.26

$54.7 ฿1,795

-17.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.29 $40.29

$26.77 ฿878

50.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.8 $66.8

$85.0 ฿2,788

-21.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 $112

$70.6 ฿2,316

57.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,309 $1,309

$428 ฿14.0K

205.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,306 $1,306

$237 ฿7,787

450.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,820 $1,820

$801 ฿26.3K

127.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,805 $1,805

$515 ฿16.9K

250.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,187 $2,187

$1,975 ฿64.8K

10.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,239 $2,239

$1,475 ฿48.4K

51.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.52

30.40%

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

Last update for Baraboo, WI: June 2, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,309 in Baraboo, WI and $428 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $40.00 in Baraboo, WI vs $19.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $307 vs $246 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

Baraboo, WI vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai wins on cost – living expenses run 173% lower than in Baraboo, WI. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Chiang Mai the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $3,545 in Baraboo, WI and $1,300 in Chiang Mai to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,309 in Baraboo, WI versus $428 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 25% higher in Baraboo, WI. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,363 per month in Baraboo, WI versus $866 in Chiang Mai – a 173% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $866 in Chiang Mai versus $2,363 in Baraboo, WI, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Baraboo, WI. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Chiang Mai delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $866 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Chiang Mai hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Baraboo, WI 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 173% less than in Baraboo, WI. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.