ðA single person spends $2,630 per month in Brookings, OR vs $845 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
ðA couple spends around $3,844 per month in Brookings, OR vs $1,323 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
ðA family of three spends $5,057 per month in Brookings, OR vs $1,802 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
ðBrookings, OR costs about 211% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðBrookings, OR sits 96% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 37% below â they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Brookings, OR
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.96$18.96
$1.95āļŋ62.8
872.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.1$74.1
$18.43āļŋ594
301.79%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.76$9.76
$7.50āļŋ241
30.13%
Cappuccino
$6.33$6.33
$1.93āļŋ62.3
227.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33$3.33
$0.78āļŋ25.08
326.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04$2.04
$0.32āļŋ10.42
537.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.04$6.04
$2.15āļŋ69.2
180.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.12$7.12
$3.71āļŋ120
91.91%
ð Groceries & Markets
Brookings, OR
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10$1.10
$1.71āļŋ55.2
-35.67%
White Bread(500g)
$4.42$4.42
$1.56āļŋ50.3
183.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.43$4.43
$1.18āļŋ38.06
275.42%
Eggs
$5.94$5.94
$1.98āļŋ63.9
200.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.16$12.16
$16.04āļŋ517
-24.19%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.34$11.34
$3.17āļŋ102
257.73%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.38$15.38
$10.94āļŋ353
40.59%
Apples(1kg)
$4.84$4.84
$2.63āļŋ84.7
84.03%
Banana(1kg)
$1.63$1.63
$1.17āļŋ37.61
39.32%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.20$4.20
$1.65āļŋ53.0
154.55%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.82$4.82
$1.54āļŋ49.51
212.99%
Potato(1kg)
$2.78$2.78
$1.38āļŋ44.34
101.45%
Onion(1kg)
$2.90$2.90
$1.17āļŋ37.54
147.86%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.46$2.46
$0.66āļŋ21.25
272.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.10$2.10
$0.51āļŋ16.55
311.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.53$9.53
$4.52āļŋ146
110.84%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.14$15.14
$18.32āļŋ590
-17.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83$1.83
$1.80āļŋ57.9
1.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.32$3.32
$3.18āļŋ102
4.40%
ð Getting Around
Brookings, OR
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.05$2.05
$0.90āļŋ28.97
127.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$19.00āļŋ612
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.54$3.54
$1.41āļŋ45.50
151.06%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.60$1.60
$1.31āļŋ42.15
22.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.60$29.60
$8.09āļŋ261
265.88%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.03$1.03
$1.28āļŋ41.08
-19.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.5K$29.5K
$21.3Kāļŋ686.1K
38.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.0K$26.0K
$21.7Kāļŋ699.3K
19.75%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brookings, OR
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187$187
$69.2āļŋ2,230
170.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.9$52.9
$13.97āļŋ450
278.67%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.2$67.2
$17.95āļŋ578
274.21%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Brookings, OR
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.41$43.41
$42.31āļŋ1,363
2.60%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.66āļŋ214
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.51$13.51
$5.92āļŋ191
128.21%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Brookings, OR
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,302$1,302
$299āļŋ9,640
335.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.1K$23.1K
$14.8Kāļŋ478.4K
55.69%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Brookings, OR
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.2$50.2
$56.2āļŋ1,810
-10.70%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.57$39.57
$26.94āļŋ868
46.88%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.8$85.8
$84.9āļŋ2,735
1.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114$114
$71.8āļŋ2,314
58.58%
ð Accommodation & Living
Brookings, OR
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,632$1,632
$435āļŋ14.0K
275.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,360$1,360
$240āļŋ7,727
467.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,543$2,543
$798āļŋ25.7K
218.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,259$2,259
$498āļŋ16.1K
353.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,235$3,235
$1,995āļŋ64.3K
62.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,293$3,293
$1,532āļŋ49.4K
114.97%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Brookings, OR
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$628āļŋ20.2K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.51
5
30.20%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Brookings, OR: April 20, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A central one-bedroom costs $1,632 in Brookings, OR versus $435 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.
ðA mid-range dinner for two costs $74 in Brookings, OR versus $18 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $406 vs $244 â 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
Brookings, OR vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chiang Mai cheaper than Brookings, OR?
Yes â Brookings, OR is pricier by about 211%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,946 per month in Brookings, OR and $1,267 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled â not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
What are total monthly expenses in Brookings, OR vs Chiang Mai?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,630 in Brookings, OR and $845 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category â it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $1,302 per month in Brookings, OR and $299 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Brookings, OR or Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $845, than in Brookings, OR at $2,630. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Brookings, OR it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Brookings, OR or Chiang Mai more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Chiang Mai â lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Brookings, OR or Chiang Mai?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison â central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Brookings, OR makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Brookings, OR vs other spots: cost of living compared