Cost of Living Comparison Between Brunswick, ME and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Brunswick, ME and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,657 in Brunswick, ME versus $861 in Chiang Mai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,790 in Brunswick, ME versus $1,350 in Chiang Mai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,923 in Brunswick, ME versus $1,838 in Chiang Mai.

Living in Brunswick, ME is roughly 209% more expensive than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Brunswick, ME is 99% above, Chiang Mai is 36% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.41 $29.41

$1.96 ฿65.8

1400.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$120 $120

$18.35 ฿617

555.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.22 $12.22

$7.48 ฿252

63.37%

Cappuccino

$6.41 $6.41

$2.02 ฿67.8

217.33%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$0.85 ฿28.50

244.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$0.36 ฿11.96

572.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.04 $5.04

$2.14 ฿71.8

135.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$3.59 ฿121

119.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 $0.99

$1.65 ฿55.5

-40.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.26 $3.26

$1.57 ฿52.7

107.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.55 $3.55

$1.19 ฿40.02

198.32%

Eggs

$2.46 $2.46

$1.94 ฿65.1

26.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.33 $13.33

$16.19 ฿544

-17.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.59 $10.59

$2.99 ฿101

254.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.97 $15.97

$10.94 ฿368

45.98%

Apples (1kg)

$3.32 $3.32

$2.71 ฿91.2

22.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.17 ฿39.25

29.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.40 $4.40

$1.69 ฿56.7

160.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.77 $4.77

$1.60 ฿54.0

198.12%

Potato (1kg)

$3.22 $3.22

$1.38 ฿46.54

133.33%

Onion (1kg)

$4.42 $4.42

$1.20 ฿40.45

268.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.48 $2.48

$0.67 ฿22.50

270.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 $1.95

$0.56 ฿18.73

248.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.81 $8.81

$4.64 ฿156

89.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.02 $13.02

$17.62 ฿593

-26.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.86 ฿62.5

-25.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.84 $1.84

$3.30 ฿111

-44.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.05 $2.05

$0.88 ฿29.68

132.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.05 $2.05

$1.36 ฿45.90

50.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.34 ฿44.98

18.66%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.56 $29.56

$8.21 ฿276

260.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$1.22 ฿41.18

-26.23%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$28.8K $28.8K

$21.4K ฿718.1K

34.99%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$37.3K $37.3K

$22.5K ฿757.7K

65.60%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$159 $159

$70.7 ฿2,376

124.35%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$54.6 $54.6

$14.04 ฿472

289.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$79.9 $79.9

$17.49 ฿588

357.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.41 $43.41

$42.15 ฿1,417

2.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

Cinema Ticket

$14.40 $14.40

$5.92 ฿199

143.24%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,293 $1,293

$309 ฿10.4K

319.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.3K $23.3K

$14.9K ฿500.4K

56.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.4 $50.4

$55.8 ฿1,875

-9.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$74.9 $74.9

$26.11 ฿878

186.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$121 $121

$83.0 ฿2,792

45.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$131 $131

$70.5 ฿2,369

86.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,596 $1,596

$432 ฿14.5K

269.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,370 $1,370

$239 ฿8,035

473.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,457 $2,457

$822 ฿27.7K

198.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,813 $1,813

$512 ฿17.2K

254.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,000 $3,000

$1,915 ฿64.4K

56.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,605 $2,605

$1,467 ฿49.3K

77.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,775 $4,775

$579 ฿19.5K

724.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.71

34.20%

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

Last update for Brunswick, ME: July 12, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,596 in Brunswick, ME and $432 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Brunswick, ME pays 724% 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: $120 in Brunswick, ME vs $18.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $363 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

Brunswick, ME vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 209% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 724% higher in Brunswick, ME, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,596 in Brunswick, ME versus $432 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,293 in Brunswick, ME versus $309 in Chiang Mai. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Chiang Mai – a meal for two runs $18.00 versus $120 in Brunswick, ME. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $861 in Chiang Mai versus $2,657 in Brunswick, ME, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Brunswick, ME. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Chiang Mai is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Brunswick, ME, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Brunswick, ME 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.

Expats usually find Chiang Mai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 209% less than in Brunswick, ME. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.