Cost of Living Comparison Between Boca Raton, FL and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Boca Raton, FL and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,228 in Boca Raton, FL versus $861 in Chiang Mai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,885 in Boca Raton, FL versus $1,350 in Chiang Mai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,543 in Boca Raton, FL versus $1,838 in Chiang Mai.

Living in Boca Raton, FL is roughly 275% more expensive than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Boca Raton, FL is 142% above, Chiang Mai is 36% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.24 $22.24

$1.96 ฿65.8

1034.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$86.0 $86.0

$18.35 ฿617

368.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.09 $12.09

$7.48 ฿252

61.63%

Cappuccino

$4.59 $4.59

$2.02 ฿67.8

127.23%

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

$2.59 $2.59

$0.85 ฿28.50

204.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 $2.04

$0.36 ฿11.96

466.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.16 $6.16

$2.14 ฿71.8

187.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.97 $6.97

$3.59 ฿121

94.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 $1.07

$1.65 ฿55.5

-35.15%

White Bread (500g)

$4.21 $4.21

$1.57 ฿52.7

168.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.95 $3.95

$1.19 ฿40.02

231.93%

Eggs

$4.29 $4.29

$1.94 ฿65.1

121.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.44 $11.44

$16.19 ฿544

-29.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.16 $11.16

$2.99 ฿101

273.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.51 $15.51

$10.94 ฿368

41.77%

Apples (1kg)

$4.92 $4.92

$2.71 ฿91.2

81.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.17 ฿39.25

31.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.35 $4.35

$1.69 ฿56.7

157.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.50 $5.50

$1.60 ฿54.0

243.75%

Potato (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$1.38 ฿46.54

213.04%

Onion (1kg)

$4.01 $4.01

$1.20 ฿40.45

234.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.41 $2.41

$0.67 ฿22.50

259.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$0.56 ฿18.73

360.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.64 $5.64

$4.64 ฿156

21.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.07 $14.07

$17.62 ฿593

-20.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 $1.99

$1.86 ฿62.5

6.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 $2.16

$3.30 ฿111

-34.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.97 $1.97

$0.88 ฿29.68

123.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$68.7 $68.7

$19.34 ฿650

255.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.98 $3.98

$1.36 ฿45.90

192.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.73 $0.73

$1.34 ฿44.98

-45.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.32 $30.32

$8.21 ฿276

269.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$1.22 ฿41.18

-27.05%

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

$24.6K $24.6K

$21.4K ฿718.1K

15.41%

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

$24.1K $24.1K

$22.5K ฿757.7K

6.88%

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

$243 $243

$70.7 ฿2,376

243.24%

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

$48.56 $48.56

$14.04 ฿472

245.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.3 $67.3

$17.49 ฿588

284.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.84 $35.84

$42.15 ฿1,417

-14.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$44.94 $44.94

$6.88 ฿231

553.20%

Cinema Ticket

$14.36 $14.36

$5.92 ฿199

142.57%

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

$1,261 $1,261

$309 ฿10.4K

308.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.3K $40.3K

$14.9K ฿500.4K

171.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.49 $31.49

$55.8 ฿1,875

-43.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.23 $41.23

$26.11 ฿878

57.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.1 $65.1

$83.0 ฿2,792

-21.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$61.5 $61.5

$70.5 ฿2,369

-12.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,738 $2,738

$432 ฿14.5K

533.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,902 $1,902

$239 ฿8,035

695.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,112 $5,112

$822 ฿27.7K

521.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,512 $3,512

$512 ฿17.2K

585.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,624 $8,624

$1,915 ฿64.4K

350.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,366 $6,366

$1,467 ฿49.3K

333.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,896 $5,896

$579 ฿19.5K

917.58%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.39

27.80%

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

Last update for Boca Raton, FL: July 13, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,738 in Boca Raton, FL and $432 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Boca Raton, FL pays 918% 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: $86.0 in Boca Raton, FL vs $18.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $405 vs $243 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

Boca Raton, FL vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 275% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 918% higher in Boca Raton, FL, 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: $2,738 in Boca Raton, FL versus $432 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 $18.00 versus $86.0 in Boca Raton, FL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,228 per month in Boca Raton, FL versus $861 in Chiang Mai – a 275% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $861 in Chiang Mai versus $3,228 in Boca Raton, FL, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Boca Raton, FL. 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 Boca Raton, FL, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Boca Raton, FL 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 275% less than in Boca Raton, FL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.