Cost of Living Comparison Between Broome, WA and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Broome, WA and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,116 in Broome, WA versus $852 in Chiang Mai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,596 in Broome, WA versus $1,354 in Chiang Mai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,077 in Broome, WA versus $1,857 in Chiang Mai.

Living in Broome, WA is roughly 148% more expensive than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Broome, WA is 58% above, Chiang Mai is 36% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Broome, WA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.28 A$22.63
$1.96 ฿63.6
730.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$132 A$184
$18.81 ฿611
603.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.63 A$13.39
$7.92 ฿258
21.59%
Cappuccino
$4.80 A$6.68
$1.91 ฿62.2
151.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.97 A$5.52
$0.84 ฿27.25
372.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23 A$3.10
$0.35 ฿11.44
537.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.95 A$11.05
$2.21 ฿71.7
259.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.71 A$9.33
$3.80 ฿124
76.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Broome, WA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.42 A$1.97
$1.64 ฿53.2
-13.41%
White Bread (500g)
$1.84 A$2.56
$1.62 ฿52.8
13.58%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.75 A$3.83
$1.18 ฿38.40
133.05%
Eggs
$5.89 A$8.18
$2.01 ฿65.4
193.03%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.60 A$11.96
$15.89 ฿517
-45.88%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.98 A$12.48
$3.01 ฿98.0
198.34%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.71 A$19.05
$10.77 ฿350
27.30%
Apples (1kg)
$4.29 A$5.97
$2.61 ฿85.0
64.37%
Banana (1kg)
$2.05 A$2.85
$1.22 ฿39.65
68.03%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.50 A$4.87
$1.70 ฿55.4
105.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.67 A$7.88
$1.58 ฿51.2
258.86%
Potato (1kg)
$2.66 A$3.70
$1.32 ฿42.89
101.52%
Onion (1kg)
$2.32 A$3.23
$1.17 ฿38.01
98.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.46 A$3.42
$0.67 ฿21.85
267.16%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.52 A$2.12
$0.56 ฿18.21
171.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$29.13 A$40.50
$4.53 ฿147
543.05%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.35 A$19.94
$18.20 ฿592
-21.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.69 A$6.52
$1.83 ฿59.6
156.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.27 A$7.32
$3.23 ฿105
63.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Broome, WA
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.57 A$3.57
$0.89 ฿28.83
188.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$66.0 A$91.7
$19.38 ฿630
240.51%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$7.42 A$10.31
$1.35 ฿43.95
449.63%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.60 A$2.22
$1.35 ฿43.79
18.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$33.01 A$45.89
$8.25 ฿268
300.12%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 A$2.11
$1.27 ฿41.40
19.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.8K A$40.0K
$21.2K ฿687.8K
36.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.7K A$28.8K
$22.5K ฿731.0K
-7.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Broome, WA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$186 A$258
$70.2 ฿2,281
164.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.75 A$38.57
$13.77 ฿448
101.53%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.83 A$63.7
$17.60 ฿572
160.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Broome, WA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.27 A$67.1
$41.57 ฿1,352
16.12%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.42 A$21.44
$6.60 ฿215
133.64%
Cinema Ticket
$16.34 A$22.71
$5.78 ฿188
182.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Broome, WA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,615 A$2,244
$306 ฿9,953
427.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K A$16.5K
$14.8K ฿482.0K
-20.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Broome, WA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.8 A$92.9
$54.4 ฿1,768
22.88%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.6 A$70.4
$26.14 ฿850
93.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 A$141
$84.5 ฿2,748
19.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 A$150
$69.4 ฿2,257
55.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Broome, WA
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,125 A$1,564
$424 ฿13.8K
165.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$904 A$1,256
$238 ฿7,743
279.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,373 A$3,299
$825 ฿26.8K
187.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,115 A$2,940
$515 ฿16.7K
310.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,051 A$8,411
$2,049 ฿66.6K
195.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,075 A$7,054
$1,523 ฿49.5K
233.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Broome, WA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,013 A$5,578
$635 ฿20.6K
531.71%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.34
5
26.80%

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

Last update for Broome, WA: April 27, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,125 in Broome, WA and $424 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Broome, WA pays 532% 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: $132 in Broome, WA vs $19.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $359 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
Broome, WA vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Broome, WA and Chiang Mai?
Broome, WA and Chiang Mai differ by about 148% in total monthly costs ($2,116 vs $852 including rent). Chiang Mai is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Broome, WA or Chiang Mai?
Broome, WA pays 532% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Broome, WA and Chiang Mai?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,125 in Broome, WA versus $424 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Broome, WA or Chiang Mai?
All in, you'll spend $2,116 per month in Broome, WA versus $852 in Chiang Mai – a 148% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Broome, WA and Chiang Mai?
A monthly transit pass in Chiang Mai runs roughly 241% less than in Broome, WA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $852 in Chiang Mai versus $2,116 in Broome, WA, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Broome, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Broome, WA and Chiang Mai?
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.
Is Broome, WA or Chiang Mai safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Broome, WA 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.
Where should expats move: Broome, WA or Chiang Mai?
Expats usually find Chiang Mai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 148% less than in Broome, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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