😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,311 in Brownsburg, IN versus $947 in Chiang Mai.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,286 in Brownsburg, IN versus $1,411 in Chiang Mai.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,260 in Brownsburg, IN versus $1,874 in Chiang Mai.
🌍Living in Brownsburg, IN is roughly 144% more expensive than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Brownsburg, IN is 68% above, Chiang Mai is 31% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Brownsburg, IN
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.15$20.15
$2.08฿68.5
868.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.7$75.7
$19.64฿646
285.34%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.71$11.71
$5.65฿186
107.26%
Cappuccino
$5.38$5.38
$1.81฿59.3
197.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59$2.59
$0.71฿23.44
264.79%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97$1.97
$0.32฿10.38
515.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.03$6.03
$2.24฿73.5
169.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.15$7.15
$3.63฿119
96.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Brownsburg, IN
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.77$0.77
$1.96฿64.4
-60.71%
White Bread(500g)
$1.79$1.79
$1.50฿49.38
19.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.34$4.34
$1.34฿43.92
223.88%
Eggs
$2.93$2.93
$2.26฿74.4
29.65%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.05$12.05
$16.26฿534
-25.89%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.77$8.77
$2.95฿97.1
197.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.91$16.91
$9.94฿327
70.12%
Apples(1kg)
$5.07$5.07
$2.57฿84.5
97.28%
Banana(1kg)
$1.84$1.84
$1.06฿34.72
73.58%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.51$4.51
$1.61฿53.0
180.12%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.66$4.66
$1.52฿49.96
206.58%
Potato(1kg)
$2.78$2.78
$1.27฿41.76
118.90%
Onion(1kg)
$2.96$2.96
$1.07฿35.05
176.64%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.08$2.08
$0.72฿23.67
188.89%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.63$1.63
$0.51฿16.72
219.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.90$9.90
$4.19฿138
136.28%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.19$12.19
$17.87฿587
-31.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.99$1.99
$1.69฿55.7
17.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.38$3.38
$2.84฿93.2
19.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Brownsburg, IN
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.06$2.06
$0.93฿30.42
121.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$53.9฿1,770
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.04$3.04
$1.23฿40.58
147.15%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.53$1.53
$0.58฿18.96
163.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$27.84$27.84
$2.42฿79.7
1050.41%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.80$0.80
$1.41฿46.42
-43.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.5K$36.5K
$21.4K฿704.9K
70.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.3K$25.3K
$27.3K฿898.5K
-7.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brownsburg, IN
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$221$221
$63.7฿2,093
246.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$80.4$80.4
$12.85฿423
525.76%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$84.3$84.3
$20.22฿665
316.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Brownsburg, IN
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.06$41.06
$38.74฿1,274
5.99%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.97฿130
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.61$13.61
$6.74฿221
101.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Brownsburg, IN
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,448$1,448
$778฿25.6K
86.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$24.0K$24.0K
$14.6K฿480.2K
64.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Brownsburg, IN
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.82$45.82
$54.3฿1,785
-15.60%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.61$40.61
$25.45฿836
59.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.7$78.7
$94.3฿3,101
-16.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.9$74.9
$73.4฿2,414
2.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Brownsburg, IN
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,259$1,259
$490฿16.1K
157.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,052$1,052
$289฿9,510
263.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,712$1,712
$894฿29.4K
91.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,622$1,622
$517฿17.0K
213.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,548$2,548
$1,955฿64.3K
30.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,633$2,633
$1,477฿48.5K
78.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Brownsburg, IN
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$7,951$7,951
$602฿19.8K
1220.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.12
5.57
9.87%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Brownsburg, IN: August 29, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,259 in Brownsburg, IN and $490 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Brownsburg, IN pays 1221% 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: $76.0 in Brownsburg, IN vs $20.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $346 vs $240 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, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 144% 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 1221% 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: $1,259 in Brownsburg, IN versus $490 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 44% 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 $2,311 per month in Brownsburg, IN versus $947 in Chiang Mai – a 144% 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 $947 in Chiang Mai versus $2,311 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 144% 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