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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,577 in Bellevue, WA versus $866 in Chiang Mai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,417 in Bellevue, WA versus $1,351 in Chiang Mai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,257 in Bellevue, WA versus $1,835 in Chiang Mai.

Living in Bellevue, WA is roughly 313% more expensive than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Bellevue, WA is 167% above, Chiang Mai is 35% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.68 $22.68

$1.94 ฿63.6

1069.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$18.64 ฿609

540.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.30 $13.30

$7.82 ฿256

70.08%

Cappuccino

$5.61 $5.61

$1.95 ฿63.9

187.69%

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

$2.89 $2.89

$0.85 ฿27.80

240.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 $2.38

$0.35 ฿11.60

580.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.85 $7.85

$2.13 ฿69.7

268.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.86 $7.86

$3.73 ฿122

110.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.71 ฿56.0

-36.26%

White Bread (500g)

$4.36 $4.36

$1.63 ฿53.3

167.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.78 $2.78

$1.14 ฿37.18

143.86%

Eggs

$6.47 $6.47

$1.93 ฿63.2

235.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.05 $15.05

$16.21 ฿530

-7.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.67 $15.67

$3.12 ฿102

402.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.17 $15.17

$10.90 ฿356

39.17%

Apples (1kg)

$5.54 $5.54

$2.75 ฿90.1

101.45%

Banana (1kg)

$2.21 $2.21

$1.21 ฿39.56

82.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.87 $4.87

$1.62 ฿53.0

200.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.71 $3.71

$1.59 ฿51.9

133.33%

Potato (1kg)

$2.38 $2.38

$1.40 ฿45.75

70.00%

Onion (1kg)

$3.86 $3.86

$1.17 ฿38.20

229.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.56 $2.56

$0.66 ฿21.62

287.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.65 $2.65

$0.53 ฿17.24

400.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.22 $13.22

$4.69 ฿153

181.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.27 $15.27

$18.66 ฿610

-18.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.09 $2.09

$1.80 ฿58.8

16.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.25 $4.25

$3.23 ฿106

31.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.68 $2.68

$0.90 ฿29.28

197.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$105 $105

$19.21 ฿628

444.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 $2.67

$1.41 ฿45.96

89.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.66 $1.66

$1.29 ฿42.16

28.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.15 $30.15

$7.84 ฿256

284.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 $1.15

$1.27 ฿41.62

-9.45%

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

$33.6K $33.6K

$21.3K ฿695.5K

57.87%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$22.2K ฿726.1K

15.55%

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

$182 $182

$69.1 ฿2,258

163.17%

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

$52.8 $52.8

$14.08 ฿460

274.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.1 $73.1

$18.00 ฿588

305.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.4 $78.4

$41.06 ฿1,342

90.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.93 $39.93

$6.96 ฿227

473.71%

Cinema Ticket

$18.05 $18.05

$5.92 ฿193

204.90%

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

$2,119 $2,119

$299 ฿9,775

608.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.9K $29.9K

$15.0K ฿488.8K

100.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.1 $61.1

$54.7 ฿1,788

11.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.87 $36.87

$26.77 ฿875

37.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.0 $99.0

$85.0 ฿2,778

16.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 $113

$70.6 ฿2,308

59.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,907 $2,907

$428 ฿14.0K

579.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,078 $2,078

$237 ฿7,759

775.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,484 $4,484

$801 ฿26.2K

459.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,649 $3,649

$515 ฿16.9K

607.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,748 $4,748

$1,975 ฿64.5K

140.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,713 $4,713

$1,475 ฿48.2K

219.54%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,697 $8,697

$617 ฿20.2K

1308.55%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.61

32.20%

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

Last update for Bellevue, WA: June 2, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,907 in Bellevue, WA and $428 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bellevue, WA pays 1309% 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: $119 in Bellevue, WA vs $19.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $446 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

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

Chiang Mai is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 313% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Bellevue, WA pays 1309% 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: $2,907 in Bellevue, WA versus $428 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 $19.00 versus $119 in Bellevue, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,577 per month in Bellevue, WA versus $866 in Chiang Mai – a 313% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $866 in Chiang Mai versus $3,577 in Bellevue, WA, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Bellevue, WA. 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 Bellevue, WA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Bellevue, WA 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 313% less than in Bellevue, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.