Cost of Living Comparison Between Bellevue, NE and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Bellevue, NE and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,270 per month in Bellevue, NE vs $947 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,390 per month in Bellevue, NE vs $1,411 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,509 per month in Bellevue, NE vs $1,874 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Bellevue, NE costs about 140% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Bellevue, NE sits 65% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 31% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.21 $20.21

$2.08 ฿68.6

871.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.6 $75.6

$19.64 ฿646

284.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.79 $11.79

$5.65 ฿186

108.67%

Cappuccino

$6.12 $6.12

$1.81 ฿59.4

238.12%

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

$2.69 $2.69

$0.71 ฿23.45

278.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 $1.75

$0.32 ฿10.38

446.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.84 $5.84

$2.24 ฿73.6

160.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.61 $7.61

$3.63 ฿119

109.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.93 $0.93

$1.96 ฿64.4

-52.55%

White Bread (500g)

$3.23 $3.23

$1.50 ฿49.39

115.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.74 $4.74

$1.34 ฿43.93

253.73%

Eggs

$4.20 $4.20

$2.26 ฿74.5

85.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.39 $10.39

$16.26 ฿535

-36.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.86 $9.86

$2.95 ฿97.1

234.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.02 $15.02

$9.94 ฿327

51.11%

Apples (1kg)

$4.48 $4.48

$2.57 ฿84.6

74.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 $1.55

$1.06 ฿34.73

46.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$1.61 ฿53.0

172.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$1.52 ฿49.97

196.71%

Potato (1kg)

$1.89 $1.89

$1.27 ฿41.77

48.82%

Onion (1kg)

$3.08 $3.08

$1.07 ฿35.06

187.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 $2.42

$0.72 ฿23.68

236.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.49 $2.49

$0.51 ฿16.72

388.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.16 $8.16

$4.19 ฿138

94.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.14 $15.14

$17.87 ฿587

-15.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.69 ฿55.7

15.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.96 $4.96

$2.84 ฿93.3

74.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.98 $1.98

$0.93 ฿30.43

112.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$80.3 $80.3

$53.9 ฿1,771

49.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.89 $2.89

$1.23 ฿40.59

134.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 $1.38

$0.58 ฿18.96

137.93%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.31 $25.31

$2.42 ฿79.7

945.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.93 $0.93

$1.41 ฿46.43

-34.04%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$21.4K ฿705.1K

63.07%

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

$27.9K $27.9K

$27.3K ฿898.7K

2.24%

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

$201 $201

$63.7 ฿2,093

216.22%

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

$67.7 $67.7

$12.85 ฿423

426.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.8 $69.8

$20.22 ฿665

245.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.24 $42.24

$38.74 ฿1,274

9.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.14 $40.14

$3.97 ฿130

911.08%

Cinema Ticket

$15.26 $15.26

$6.74 ฿222

126.41%

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

$994 $994

$778 ฿25.6K

27.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.6K $19.6K

$14.6K ฿480.4K

34.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.2 $60.2

$54.3 ฿1,785

10.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.94 $43.94

$25.45 ฿837

72.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$94.3 ฿3,102

7.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 $118

$73.4 ฿2,415

60.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,143 $1,143

$490 ฿16.1K

133.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$928 $928

$289 ฿9,512

220.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,743 $1,743

$894 ฿29.4K

95.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,555 $1,555

$517 ฿17.0K

200.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,733 $2,733

$1,955 ฿64.3K

39.79%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,398 $2,398

$1,477 ฿48.6K

62.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,341 $4,341

$602 ฿19.8K

620.97%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.12

5.57

9.87%

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

Last update for Bellevue, NE: August 29, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,143 in Bellevue, NE versus $490 in Chiang Mai. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 621% higher in Bellevue, NE, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $76.0 in Bellevue, NE versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $376 vs $240 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Bellevue, NE vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,270 in Bellevue, NE, $947 in Chiang Mai – roughly 140% apart. Bellevue, NE costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,405 per month in Bellevue, NE and $1,421 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $76.0 in Bellevue, NE and $20.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,270 in Bellevue, NE and $947 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $947, than in Bellevue, NE at $2,270. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bellevue, NE it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $947 in Chiang Mai to $2,270 in Bellevue, NE. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bellevue, NE makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.