Cost of Living Comparison Between Bentonville, AR and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Bentonville, AR and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,336 per month in Bentonville, AR vs $950 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,481 per month in Bentonville, AR vs $1,430 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,626 per month in Bentonville, AR vs $1,909 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Bentonville, AR costs about 146% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Bentonville, AR sits 69% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 31% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.64 $20.64

$2.10 ฿69.3

882.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.8 $58.8

$19.84 ฿656

196.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.45 $12.45

$5.79 ฿191

115.03%

Cappuccino

$5.65 $5.65

$1.83 ฿60.4

208.74%

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

$2.55 $2.55

$0.78 ฿25.61

226.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 $1.72

$0.31 ฿10.37

454.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.65 $6.65

$2.34 ฿77.2

184.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.38 $7.38

$3.70 ฿122

99.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 $0.99

$2.03 ฿67.1

-51.23%

White Bread (500g)

$2.79 $2.79

$1.60 ฿52.7

74.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$1.42 ฿46.75

209.15%

Eggs

$4.04 $4.04

$2.18 ฿71.9

85.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.40 $9.40

$15.91 ฿526

-40.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.82 $9.82

$3.07 ฿102

219.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.82 $13.82

$9.87 ฿326

40.02%

Apples (1kg)

$4.16 $4.16

$2.63 ฿86.8

58.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.33 $1.33

$1.10 ฿36.19

20.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.13 $3.13

$1.63 ฿53.8

92.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.61 $2.61

$1.53 ฿50.6

70.59%

Potato (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.24 ฿41.13

42.74%

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 $2.17

$1.13 ฿37.37

92.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.86 $1.86

$0.74 ฿24.38

151.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$0.50 ฿16.48

336.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.99 $7.99

$4.28 ฿141

86.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.96 $11.96

$17.97 ฿594

-33.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 $1.78

$1.70 ฿56.1

4.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.05 $3.05

$2.90 ฿95.7

5.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.52 $2.52

$1.23 ฿40.76

104.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.27 $1.27

$0.53 ฿17.66

139.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$59.0 $59.0

$2.40 ฿79.3

2357.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 $0.84

$1.44 ฿47.55

-41.67%

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

$30.7K $30.7K

$21.2K ฿700.2K

45.04%

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

$25.2K $25.2K

$27.3K ฿902.1K

-7.55%

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

$189 $189

$64.9 ฿2,145

190.96%

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

$52.2 $52.2

$13.35 ฿441

290.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.3 $63.3

$20.83 ฿688

203.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.96 $21.96

$40.42 ฿1,336

-45.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.13 $5.13

$3.95 ฿131

29.87%

Cinema Ticket

$15.18 $15.18

$6.71 ฿222

126.23%

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

$1,139 $1,139

$787 ฿26.0K

44.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.6K $20.6K

$15.1K ฿499.6K

36.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.65 $47.65

$56.2 ฿1,858

-15.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.57 $39.57

$24.95 ฿824

58.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.0 $64.0

$92.7 ฿3,063

-30.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.5 $78.5

$75.1 ฿2,482

4.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,677 $1,677

$484 ฿16.0K

246.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,235 $1,235

$287 ฿9,491

329.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,974 $2,974

$910 ฿30.1K

226.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,122 $2,122

$531 ฿17.5K

299.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,855 $3,855

$1,980 ฿65.4K

94.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,337 $2,337

$1,451 ฿47.9K

61.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,777 $5,777

$605 ฿20.0K

854.52%

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 Bentonville, AR: September 7, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,677 in Bentonville, AR versus $484 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 855% higher in Bentonville, AR, 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 $59.0 in Bentonville, AR versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $327 vs $242 – 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

Bentonville, AR vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,336 in Bentonville, AR, $950 in Chiang Mai – roughly 146% apart. Bentonville, AR costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,505 per month in Bentonville, AR and $1,426 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,336 in Bentonville, AR and $950 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,139 per month in Bentonville, AR and $787 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $950, than in Bentonville, AR at $2,336. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bentonville, AR 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 $950 in Chiang Mai to $2,336 in Bentonville, AR. 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, Bentonville, AR makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.