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: $3,314 in Boca Raton, FL versus $866 in Chiang Mai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,947 in Boca Raton, FL versus $1,351 in Chiang Mai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,580 in Boca Raton, FL versus $1,835 in Chiang Mai.

Living in Boca Raton, FL is roughly 282% more expensive than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Boca Raton, FL is 147% above, Chiang Mai is 35% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.09 $22.09

$1.94 ฿63.5

1038.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$85.3 $85.3

$18.64 ฿609

357.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.07 $12.07

$7.82 ฿255

54.35%

Cappuccino

$4.61 $4.61

$1.95 ฿63.8

136.41%

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

$2.54 $2.54

$0.85 ฿27.77

198.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 $2.08

$0.35 ฿11.58

494.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.15 $6.15

$2.13 ฿69.6

188.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.06 $7.06

$3.73 ฿122

89.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$1.71 ฿56.0

-38.01%

White Bread (500g)

$4.09 $4.09

$1.63 ฿53.2

150.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.08 $4.08

$1.14 ฿37.15

257.89%

Eggs

$4.46 $4.46

$1.93 ฿63.1

131.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.33 $11.33

$16.21 ฿530

-30.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.52 $11.52

$3.12 ฿102

269.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.39 $15.39

$10.90 ฿356

41.19%

Apples (1kg)

$5.02 $5.02

$2.75 ฿90.0

82.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.60 $1.60

$1.21 ฿39.52

32.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.48 $4.48

$1.62 ฿53.0

176.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.35 $5.35

$1.59 ฿51.8

236.48%

Potato (1kg)

$4.28 $4.28

$1.40 ฿45.70

205.71%

Onion (1kg)

$4.07 $4.07

$1.17 ฿38.17

247.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.38 $2.38

$0.66 ฿21.60

260.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.65 $2.65

$0.53 ฿17.22

400.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.58 $5.58

$4.69 ฿153

18.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.80 $13.80

$18.66 ฿609

-26.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.94 $1.94

$1.80 ฿58.8

7.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 $2.09

$3.23 ฿106

-35.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.96 $1.96

$0.90 ฿29.26

117.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$68.8 $68.8

$19.21 ฿628

258.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.98 $3.98

$1.41 ฿45.91

182.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.78 $0.78

$1.29 ฿42.12

-39.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.48 $30.48

$7.84 ฿256

288.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$1.27 ฿41.58

-34.65%

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

$24.8K $24.8K

$21.3K ฿694.9K

16.41%

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

$24.8K $24.8K

$22.2K ฿725.4K

11.74%

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

$250 $250

$69.1 ฿2,256

261.23%

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

$47.48 $47.48

$14.08 ฿460

237.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.5 $69.5

$18.00 ฿588

285.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.20 $36.20

$41.06 ฿1,341

-11.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$44.48 $44.48

$6.96 ฿227

539.08%

Cinema Ticket

$14.49 $14.49

$5.92 ฿193

144.76%

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

$1,272 $1,272

$299 ฿9,766

325.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.7K $39.7K

$15.0K ฿488.3K

165.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.95 $31.95

$54.7 ฿1,787

-41.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.39 $41.39

$26.77 ฿874

54.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.1 $66.1

$85.0 ฿2,776

-22.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$61.7 $61.7

$70.6 ฿2,306

-12.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,707 $2,707

$428 ฿14.0K

532.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,949 $1,949

$237 ฿7,752

721.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,065 $5,065

$801 ฿26.2K

531.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,507 $3,507

$515 ฿16.8K

580.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,590 $8,590

$1,975 ฿64.5K

335.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,433 $6,433

$1,475 ฿48.2K

336.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,758 $5,758

$617 ฿20.2K

832.47%

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,707 in Boca Raton, FL and $428 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Boca Raton, FL pays 832% 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: $85.0 in Boca Raton, FL vs $19.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $407 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

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 282% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Boca Raton, FL pays 832% 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: $2,707 in Boca Raton, FL 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 $85.0 in Boca Raton, FL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,314 per month in Boca Raton, FL versus $866 in Chiang Mai – a 282% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $866 in Chiang Mai versus $3,314 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 282% less than in Boca Raton, FL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.