Cost of Living Comparison Between California, MD and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between California, MD and Chiang Mai

😐 Solo nomad: California, MD is 103.8% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 201.6% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: California, MD is 76.7% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 164.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
California, MD
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.84 $8.84
$2.03 ฿64.6
335.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.4 $80.4
$18.59 ฿593
332.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.15 $10.15
$7.48 ฿238
35.70%
Cappuccino
$5.69 $5.69
$2.00 ฿63.7
184.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 $2.84
$0.85 ฿27.01
234.12%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36 $2.36
$0.35 ฿11.21
574.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.66 $5.66
$2.21 ฿70.5
156.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.80 $6.80
$3.76 ฿120
80.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
California, MD
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.91 $0.91
$1.72 ฿54.8
-47.09%
White Bread (500g)
$3.07 $3.07
$1.63 ฿52.1
88.34%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.26 $2.26
$1.16 ฿36.93
94.83%
Eggs
$4.84 $4.84
$1.98 ฿63.1
144.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.19 $13.19
$15.93 ฿508
-17.20%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.33 $10.33
$3.17 ฿101
225.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.11 $11.11
$10.90 ฿348
1.93%
Apples (1kg)
$4.46 $4.46
$2.65 ฿84.3
68.30%
Banana (1kg)
$1.77 $1.77
$1.22 ฿38.98
45.08%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.46 $4.46
$1.70 ฿54.1
162.35%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.58 $6.58
$1.59 ฿50.7
313.84%
Potato (1kg)
$3.54 $3.54
$1.32 ฿42.21
168.18%
Onion (1kg)
$2.72 $2.72
$1.17 ฿37.25
132.48%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.98 $1.98
$0.68 ฿21.61
191.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.02 $2.02
$0.56 ฿17.76
260.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.78 $8.78
$4.51 ฿144
94.68%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.02 $14.02
$19.07 ฿608
-26.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.77 ฿56.4
-3.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.99 $4.99
$3.18 ฿101
56.92%
🚌 Getting Around
California, MD
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.10 $2.10
$0.96 ฿30.70
118.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$80.4 $80.4
$18.90 ฿602
325.24%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.09 $4.09
$1.36 ฿43.29
200.74%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 $1.35
$1.35 ฿43.11
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.65 $28.65
$8.03 ฿256
256.79%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 $0.83
$1.24 ฿39.62
-33.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.4K $29.4K
$21.2K ฿674.7K
38.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5K $23.5K
$21.8K ฿693.5K
7.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
California, MD
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$207 $207
$71.2 ฿2,271
191.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$42.82 $42.82
$14.09 ฿449
203.90%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.2 $71.2
$17.47 ฿557
307.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
California, MD
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.54 $40.54
$42.07 ฿1,341
-3.64%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.79 $10.79
$6.88 ฿219
56.83%
Cinema Ticket
$15.14 $15.14
$5.94 ฿189
154.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
California, MD
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,201 $2,201
$307 ฿9,799
616.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.2K $24.2K
$14.8K ฿471.6K
63.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
California, MD
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.9 $52.9
$55.7 ฿1,775
-4.98%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.40 $48.40
$26.79 ฿854
80.66%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.1 $96.1
$83.2 ฿2,653
15.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$140 $140
$70.1 ฿2,235
99.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
California, MD
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,713 $1,713
$427 ฿13.6K
300.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,319 $1,319
$237 ฿7,559
456.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,507 $2,507
$802 ฿25.6K
212.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,155 $2,155
$503 ฿16.0K
328.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,796 $6,796
$2,061 ฿65.7K
229.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,214 $6,214
$1,533 ฿48.9K
305.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
California, MD
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$7,087 $7,087
$654 ฿20.8K
984.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.48
5
29.60%

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

Last update for California, MD: March 3, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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