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 $2,478 per month in Bentonville, AR vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,668 per month in Bentonville, AR vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,858 per month in Bentonville, AR vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Bentonville, AR costs about 186% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Bentonville, AR sits 85% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$21.64 $21.64

$1.94 ฿63.5

1015.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$85.8 $85.8

$18.64 ฿609

360.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.78 $10.78

$7.82 ฿255

37.85%

Cappuccino

$5.37 $5.37

$1.95 ฿63.8

175.38%

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

$2.69 $2.69

$0.85 ฿27.77

216.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 $2.20

$0.35 ฿11.58

528.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.09 $6.09

$2.13 ฿69.6

185.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.52 $6.52

$3.73 ฿122

74.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.71 ฿56.0

-36.84%

White Bread (500g)

$3.26 $3.26

$1.63 ฿53.2

100.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.00 $3.00

$1.14 ฿37.15

163.16%

Eggs

$4.85 $4.85

$1.93 ฿63.1

151.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.92 $9.92

$16.21 ฿530

-38.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.47 $16.47

$3.12 ฿102

427.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.37 $16.37

$10.90 ฿356

50.18%

Apples (1kg)

$4.48 $4.48

$2.75 ฿90.0

62.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.21 ฿39.52

10.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.62 ฿53.0

77.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$1.59 ฿51.8

67.92%

Potato (1kg)

$2.40 $2.40

$1.40 ฿45.70

71.43%

Onion (1kg)

$2.64 $2.64

$1.17 ฿38.17

125.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.88 $1.88

$0.66 ฿21.60

184.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.93 $1.93

$0.53 ฿17.22

264.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.28 $10.28

$4.69 ฿153

119.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.19 $12.19

$18.66 ฿609

-34.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 $1.63

$1.80 ฿58.8

-9.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$3.23 ฿106

-32.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.98 $1.98

$0.90 ฿29.26

120.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.41 ฿45.91

72.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 $1.48

$1.29 ฿42.12

14.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.10 $24.10

$7.84 ฿256

207.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 $0.78

$1.27 ฿41.58

-38.58%

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

$23.7K $23.7K

$21.3K ฿694.9K

11.37%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$22.2K ฿725.4K

16.89%

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

$197 $197

$69.1 ฿2,256

185.90%

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

$48.02 $48.02

$14.08 ฿460

241.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.0 $67.0

$18.00 ฿588

272.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.70 $25.70

$41.06 ฿1,341

-37.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.01 $5.01

$6.96 ฿227

-28.02%

Cinema Ticket

$12.43 $12.43

$5.92 ฿193

109.97%

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

$1,047 $1,047

$299 ฿9,766

250.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.7K $18.7K

$15.0K ฿488.3K

24.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.68 $46.68

$54.7 ฿1,787

-14.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.77 $39.77

$26.77 ฿874

48.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.0 $68.0

$85.0 ฿2,776

-20.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.6 $69.6

$70.6 ฿2,306

-1.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,708 $1,708

$428 ฿14.0K

298.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,279 $1,279

$237 ฿7,752

438.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,999 $2,999

$801 ฿26.2K

274.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,078 $2,078

$515 ฿16.8K

303.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,872 $3,872

$1,975 ฿64.5K

96.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,348 $2,348

$1,475 ฿48.2K

59.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,724 $5,724

$617 ฿20.2K

827.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.56

31.20%

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

Last update for Bentonville, AR: June 1, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,708 in Bentonville, AR versus $428 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 827% 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 $86.0 in Bentonville, AR versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $371 vs $246 – 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: $2,478 in Bentonville, AR, $866 in Chiang Mai – roughly 186% apart. Bentonville, AR costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,717 per month in Bentonville, AR and $1,300 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 $2,478 in Bentonville, AR and $866 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,047 per month in Bentonville, AR and $299 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 $866, than in Bentonville, AR at $2,478. 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 $866 in Chiang Mai to $2,478 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.