Cost of Living Comparison Between Bethel, AK and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Bethel, AK and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,568 in Bethel, AK versus $852 in Chiang Mai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,734 in Bethel, AK versus $1,360 in Chiang Mai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,899 in Bethel, AK versus $1,867 in Chiang Mai.

Living in Bethel, AK is roughly 201% more expensive than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Bethel, AK is 93% above, Chiang Mai is 36% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$23.41 $23.41

$2.04 ฿68.4

1047.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$68.9 $68.9

$18.71 ฿626

268.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.80 $10.80

$7.86 ฿263

37.40%

Cappuccino

$5.12 $5.12

$2.03 ฿67.9

152.22%

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

$2.50 $2.50

$0.80 ฿26.71

212.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 $2.01

$0.35 ฿11.71

474.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.08 $6.08

$2.14 ฿71.7

184.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.18 $7.18

$3.67 ฿123

95.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 $0.99

$1.73 ฿57.8

-42.77%

White Bread (500g)

$3.59 $3.59

$1.57 ฿52.5

128.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.36 $4.36

$1.20 ฿40.10

263.33%

Eggs

$4.23 $4.23

$1.97 ฿66.0

114.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.42 $12.42

$16.23 ฿543

-23.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.27 $11.27

$3.06 ฿102

268.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.41 $15.41

$10.80 ฿361

42.69%

Apples (1kg)

$4.82 $4.82

$2.77 ฿92.6

74.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 $1.62

$1.17 ฿39.05

38.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.22 $4.22

$1.71 ฿57.1

146.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.71 $4.71

$1.59 ฿53.3

196.23%

Potato (1kg)

$2.90 $2.90

$1.39 ฿46.63

108.63%

Onion (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.16 ฿38.67

148.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.07 $2.07

$0.66 ฿22.11

213.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.13 $2.13

$0.52 ฿17.35

309.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.55 $9.55

$4.65 ฿155

105.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.15 $15.15

$17.78 ฿595

-14.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 $1.79

$1.79 ฿59.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.39 $3.39

$3.34 ฿112

1.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.94 $1.94

$0.91 ฿30.35

113.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿624

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.55 $3.55

$1.41 ฿47.17

151.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.34 ฿44.82

18.66%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.89 $28.89

$8.11 ฿271

256.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$1.23 ฿41.27

-30.08%

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

$30.0K $30.0K

$21.4K ฿717.0K

39.84%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$21.8K ฿730.0K

16.56%

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

$187 $187

$71.3 ฿2,386

162.46%

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

$52.7 $52.7

$14.01 ฿469

276.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.8 $68.8

$17.93 ฿600

283.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.86 $43.86

$40.82 ฿1,365

7.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

Cinema Ticket

$15.41 $15.41

$5.72 ฿191

169.41%

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

$1,286 $1,286

$308 ฿10.3K

317.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.1K $23.1K

$14.7K ฿491.0K

57.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.4 $51.4

$55.8 ฿1,865

-7.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.61 $40.61

$26.04 ฿871

55.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.3 $86.3

$84.8 ฿2,837

1.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 $110

$71.0 ฿2,375

54.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,628 $1,628

$423 ฿14.2K

284.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,379 $1,379

$242 ฿8,110

468.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,691 $1,691

$797 ฿26.7K

112.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,263 $2,263

$507 ฿17.0K

346.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,447 $2,447

$1,918 ฿64.2K

27.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,436 $2,436

$1,464 ฿49.0K

66.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

30.20%

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

Last update for Bethel, AK: July 27, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Bethel, AK and $423 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $69.0 in Bethel, AK vs $19.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $389 vs $244 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

Bethel, AK vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bethel, AK and Chiang Mai differ by about 201% in total monthly costs ($2,568 vs $852 including rent). Chiang Mai is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $3,852 in Bethel, AK and $1,279 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: $1,628 in Bethel, AK versus $423 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 59% higher in Bethel, AK. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,568 per month in Bethel, AK versus $852 in Chiang Mai – a 201% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $852 in Chiang Mai versus $2,568 in Bethel, AK, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Bethel, AK. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Bethel, AK 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 201% less than in Bethel, AK. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.