😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,566 in Bryan, TX versus $866 in Chiang Mai.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,782 in Bryan, TX versus $1,351 in Chiang Mai.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,998 in Bryan, TX versus $1,835 in Chiang Mai.
😐Living in Bryan, TX is roughly 196% more expensive than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Bryan, TX is 91% above, Chiang Mai is 35% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bryan, TX
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.95$18.95
$1.94฿63.8
876.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$76.1$76.1
$18.64฿611
307.99%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.06$11.06
$7.82฿256
41.43%
Cappuccino
$5.21$5.21
$1.95฿64.1
167.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52$2.52
$0.85฿27.90
196.47%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05$2.05
$0.35฿11.64
485.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.91$5.91
$2.13฿69.9
177.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.03$7.03
$3.73฿122
88.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bryan, TX
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.04$1.04
$1.71฿56.2
-39.18%
White Bread(500g)
$3.46$3.46
$1.63฿53.4
112.27%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.20$4.20
$1.14฿37.32
268.42%
Eggs
$4.21$4.21
$1.93฿63.4
118.13%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.40$12.40
$16.21฿532
-23.50%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.41$11.41
$3.12฿102
265.71%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.31$15.31
$10.90฿357
40.46%
Apples(1kg)
$4.77$4.77
$2.75฿90.4
73.45%
Banana(1kg)
$1.56$1.56
$1.21฿39.70
28.93%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.20$4.20
$1.62฿53.2
159.26%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.68$4.68
$1.59฿52.1
194.34%
Potato(1kg)
$2.87$2.87
$1.40฿45.91
105.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.80$2.80
$1.17฿38.34
139.32%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.10$2.10
$0.66฿21.70
218.18%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.13$2.13
$0.53฿17.30
301.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.36$9.36
$4.69฿154
99.57%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.09$14.09
$18.66฿612
-24.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77$1.77
$1.80฿59.0
-1.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33$3.33
$3.23฿106
3.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Bryan, TX
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.03$2.03
$0.90฿29.39
125.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$19.21฿630
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.55$3.55
$1.41฿46.13
151.77%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.57$1.57
$1.29฿42.31
21.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.09$29.09
$7.84฿257
271.05%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.91$0.91
$1.27฿41.77
-28.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2K$30.2K
$21.3K฿698.1K
41.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6K$25.6K
$22.2K฿728.8K
15.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bryan, TX
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$190$190
$69.1฿2,266
175.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.3$53.3
$14.08฿462
278.34%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.2$66.2
$18.00฿591
267.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bryan, TX
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.58$43.58
$41.06฿1,347
6.14%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.96฿228
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.46$13.46
$5.92฿194
127.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bryan, TX
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,285$1,285
$299฿9,811
329.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.0K$23.0K
$15.0K฿490.6K
53.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bryan, TX
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.2$50.2
$54.7฿1,795
-8.32%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.39$40.39
$26.77฿878
50.88%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.2$86.2
$85.0฿2,788
1.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113$113
$70.6฿2,316
59.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bryan, TX
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,584$1,584
$428฿14.0K
269.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,367$1,367
$237฿7,787
476.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,676$2,676
$801฿26.3K
233.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,265$2,265
$515฿16.9K
339.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,779$2,779
$1,975฿64.8K
40.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,458$2,458
$1,475฿48.4K
66.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bryan, TX
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$617฿20.3K
-
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 Bryan, TX: May 30, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,584 in Bryan, TX and $428 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $76.0 in Bryan, TX vs $19.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $384 vs $246 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
Bryan, TX vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chiang Mai cheaper than Bryan, TX?
Chiang Mai is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 196% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $3,849 in Bryan, TX and $1,300 in Chiang Mai to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Bryan, TX and Chiang Mai?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,584 in Bryan, TX versus $428 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $1,285 in Bryan, TX versus $299 in Chiang Mai. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Bryan, TX or Chiang Mai?
Dining out is cheaper in Chiang Mai – a meal for two runs $19.00 versus $76.0 in Bryan, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Bryan, TX or Chiang Mai?
At $866 in Chiang Mai versus $2,566 in Bryan, TX, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Bryan, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Bryan, TX or Chiang Mai more family-friendly?
For families, Chiang Mai is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Bryan, TX, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Bryan, TX or Chiang Mai?
Safety-wise, Bryan, TX 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 196% less than in Bryan, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.