Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Brookings, OR and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $936 a month against $2,632 in Brookings, OR, rent and utilities included – about $20,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Brookings, OR, United States
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Brookings, OR
🇺🇸 United States
$2,632
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$936
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Brookings, OR and in Chiang Mai

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Brookings, OR and in Chiang Mai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,632 per month in Brookings, OR vs $936 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Brookings, OR $2,632
  • Chiang Mai $936

A couple spends around $3,869 per month in Brookings, OR vs $1,457 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Brookings, OR $3,869
  • Chiang Mai $1,457

A family of three spends $5,107 per month in Brookings, OR vs $1,979 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Brookings, OR $5,107
  • Chiang Mai $1,979

Brookings, OR costs about 181% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Brookings, OR sits 93% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 31% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Brookings, OR
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.05 $20.05
$2.24 ฿75.7
795.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.7 $74.7
$19.00 ฿642
293.16%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.62 $9.62
$5.55 ฿188
73.33%
Cappuccino
$6.35 $6.35
$1.67 ฿56.6
280.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33 $3.33
$0.64 ฿21.56
420.31%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 $2.05
$0.31 ฿10.32
561.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.04 $6.04
$2.36 ฿79.6
155.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.80 $6.80
$3.66 ฿124
85.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Brookings, OR
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 $1.05
$1.95 ฿65.8
-46.15%
White Bread (500g)
$4.35 $4.35
$1.44 ฿48.51
202.08%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.42 $4.42
$1.33 ฿45.07
232.33%
Eggs
$6.08 $6.08
$2.28 ฿77.1
166.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.79 $12.79
$16.45 ฿556
-22.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.83 $11.83
$2.78 ฿94.0
325.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.16 $16.16
$9.31 ฿314
73.58%
Apples (1kg)
$5.23 $5.23
$2.35 ฿79.5
122.55%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 $1.63
$0.97 ฿32.82
68.04%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.38 $4.38
$1.60 ฿53.9
173.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.74 $4.74
$1.50 ฿50.7
216.00%
Potato (1kg)
$2.76 $2.76
$1.28 ฿43.15
115.62%
Onion (1kg)
$2.66 $2.66
$1.10 ฿37.22
141.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.50 $2.50
$0.71 ฿23.84
252.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.24 $2.24
$0.49 ฿16.38
357.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.29 $10.29
$4.14 ฿140
148.55%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.04 $15.04
$17.52 ฿592
-14.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.99 $1.99
$1.61 ฿54.5
23.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.14 $3.14
$2.78 ฿94.0
12.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Brookings, OR
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.29 $2.29
$0.87 ฿29.33
163.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$57.9 $57.9
$54.1 ฿1,827
6.99%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.40 $3.40
$1.16 ฿39.08
193.10%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.51 $1.51
$0.53 ฿17.82
184.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$27.65 $27.65
$2.42 ฿81.8
1042.56%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.22 $1.22
$1.45 ฿48.93
-15.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7K $24.7K
$21.1K ฿711.2K
17.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.3K $29.3K
$26.9K ฿909.8K
8.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brookings, OR
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$224 $224
$62.2 ฿2,100
260.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.5 $58.5
$12.17 ฿411
380.69%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.2 $70.2
$20.12 ฿680
249.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Brookings, OR
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.77 $35.77
$37.31 ฿1,260
-4.13%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.77 ฿127
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.82 $13.82
$6.49 ฿219
112.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Brookings, OR
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,382 $1,382
$736 ฿24.9K
87.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.9K $24.9K
$14.8K ฿498.6K
68.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Brookings, OR
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.3 $53.3
$53.4 ฿1,802
-0.13%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.72 $44.72
$24.64 ฿832
81.49%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.8 $88.8
$91.5 ฿3,089
-2.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 $113
$71.9 ฿2,429
57.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Brookings, OR
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,540 $1,540
$482 ฿16.3K
219.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,255 $1,255
$309 ฿10.4K
306.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,508 $2,508
$1,006 ฿34.0K
149.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,110 $2,110
$633 ฿21.4K
233.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,303 $3,303
$2,363 ฿79.8K
39.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,240 $3,240
$1,589 ฿53.7K
103.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Brookings, OR
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$590 ฿19.9K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.57
5.57
17.95%

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

Last update for Brookings, OR: October 27, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Brookings, OR
$1.3K
Chiang Mai
$309 75.4% $947
Groceries & Markets
Brookings, OR
$416
Chiang Mai
$234 43.7% $182
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brookings, OR
$353
Chiang Mai
$94 73.2% $258
Eating Out
Brookings, OR
$331
Chiang Mai
$78 76.5% $253
Clothing & Footwear
Brookings, OR
$135
Chiang Mai
$109 19.6% $26
Getting Around
Brookings, OR
$78
Chiang Mai
$61 21.3% $17
Sport & Entertainment
Brookings, OR
$63
Chiang Mai
$50 20.7% $13

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,540 in Brookings, OR versus $482 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $75 in Brookings, OR versus $19 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $416 vs $234 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Brookings, OR
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
15:15 3:15 PM
05:15 5:15 AM
14 h ahead of Brookings, OR
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
18,802
127,240
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.898 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 33.77 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.59 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Brookings, OR Chiang Mai 11,920 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Brookings, OR
  • Chiang Mai

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 – Brookings, OR is pricier by about 181%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,947 per month in Brookings, OR and $1,403 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $482 there versus $1,540 in Brookings, OR.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 7% less in Chiang Mai. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $1,382 per month in Brookings, OR and $736 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $800 enough to cover costs in Brookings, OR or in Chiang Mai?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,632 in Brookings, OR and $936 in Chiang Mai. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is Brookings, OR or Chiang Mai more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Chiang Mai – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
For expats, Chiang Mai is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 64% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

Brookings, OR vs other spots: cost of living compared

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