😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,527 in Brownsburg, IN versus $847 in Chiang Mai.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,735 in Brownsburg, IN versus $1,332 in Chiang Mai.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,942 in Brownsburg, IN versus $1,816 in Chiang Mai.
🌍Living in Brownsburg, IN is roughly 198% more expensive than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Brownsburg, IN is 89% above, Chiang Mai is 37% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Brownsburg, IN
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.87$18.87
$2.03฿68.5
829.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.0$74.0
$18.71฿631
295.72%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.89$10.89
$7.84฿265
38.90%
Cappuccino
$5.22$5.22
$1.93฿65.0
170.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47$2.47
$0.83฿28.05
197.59%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95$1.95
$0.35฿11.82
457.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.04$6.04
$2.22฿74.9
172.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.84$6.84
$3.79฿128
80.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Brownsburg, IN
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.03$1.03
$1.65฿55.5
-37.58%
White Bread(500g)
$3.48$3.48
$1.55฿52.4
124.52%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.36$4.36
$1.18฿39.86
269.49%
Eggs
$4.26$4.26
$2.01฿68.0
111.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.25$12.25
$16.16฿545
-24.20%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.48$11.48
$3.03฿102
278.88%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.14$15.14
$10.84฿366
39.67%
Apples(1kg)
$4.86$4.86
$2.68฿90.4
81.34%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64$1.64
$1.22฿41.21
34.43%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.27$4.27
$1.63฿54.9
161.96%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.58$4.58
$1.53฿51.6
199.35%
Potato(1kg)
$2.78$2.78
$1.34฿45.18
107.46%
Onion(1kg)
$2.91$2.91
$1.21฿40.93
140.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.09$2.09
$0.70฿23.67
198.57%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.20$2.20
$0.53฿17.73
315.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.38$9.38
$4.69฿158
100.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.23$12.23
$17.71฿598
-30.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76$1.76
$1.85฿62.3
-4.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.35$3.35
$3.21฿108
4.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Brownsburg, IN
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.03$2.03
$0.89฿30.07
128.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$18.76฿633
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.46$3.46
$1.41฿47.48
145.39%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.66$1.66
$1.29฿43.59
28.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.39$29.39
$7.79฿263
277.28%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.90$0.90
$1.29฿43.67
-30.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8K$29.8K
$21.8K฿734.7K
36.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.4K$25.4K
$21.7K฿732.1K
17.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brownsburg, IN
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$191$191
$70.0฿2,362
173.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.8$52.8
$14.19฿479
272.02%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.3$67.3
$17.42฿588
286.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Brownsburg, IN
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.71$42.71
$41.64฿1,405
2.57%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.89฿233
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.52$13.52
$5.78฿195
133.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Brownsburg, IN
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,291$1,291
$300฿10.1K
330.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.4K$23.4K
$14.5K฿490.1K
60.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Brownsburg, IN
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.0$51.0
$55.4฿1,869
-7.95%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.69$39.69
$26.31฿888
50.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.9$85.9
$84.8฿2,863
1.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111$111
$70.5฿2,379
57.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Brownsburg, IN
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,596$1,596
$425฿14.4K
275.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,339$1,339
$235฿7,933
469.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,638$2,638
$802฿27.1K
228.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,266$2,266
$516฿17.4K
339.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,882$2,882
$1,926฿65.0K
49.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,416$2,416
$1,451฿49.0K
66.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Brownsburg, IN
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$8,046$8,046
$586฿19.8K
1272.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.51
5
30.20%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Brownsburg, IN: July 20, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,596 in Brownsburg, IN and $425 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Brownsburg, IN pays 1272% 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: $74.0 in Brownsburg, IN vs $19.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $382 vs $242 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
Brownsburg, IN vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chiang Mai cheaper than Brownsburg, IN?
Chiang Mai is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 198% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Brownsburg, IN or Chiang Mai?
Average pay runs 1272% higher in Brownsburg, IN, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Brownsburg, IN and Chiang Mai?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,596 in Brownsburg, IN versus $425 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Brownsburg, IN and in Chiang Mai?
Supermarket bills run roughly 58% higher in Brownsburg, IN. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Brownsburg, IN and in Chiang Mai?
All in, you'll spend $2,527 per month in Brownsburg, IN versus $847 in Chiang Mai – a 198% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Brownsburg, IN or in Chiang Mai?
At $847 in Chiang Mai versus $2,527 in Brownsburg, IN, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Brownsburg, IN. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Brownsburg, IN or Chiang Mai more family-friendly?
For families, Chiang Mai is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Brownsburg, IN, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Brownsburg, IN or Chiang Mai?
Safety-wise, Brownsburg, IN 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Chiang Mai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 198% less than in Brownsburg, IN. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Brownsburg, IN vs other spots: cost of living compared