Cost of Living Comparison Between Cary, NC and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Cary, NC and Chiang Mai

😐 Solo nomad: Cary, NC is 118.3% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 236.2% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Cary, NC is 111% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 226.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cary, NC
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.75 $17.75
$2.02 ฿65.3
778.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$18.78 ฿608
432.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.66 $10.66
$7.67 ฿248
38.98%
Cappuccino
$4.97 $4.97
$1.98 ฿64.2
151.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01 $2.01
$0.82 ฿26.64
145.12%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89 $1.89
$0.33 ฿10.58
472.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.06 $5.06
$2.12 ฿68.6
138.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.65 $6.65
$3.73 ฿121
78.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cary, NC
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 $1.12
$1.64 ฿53.2
-31.71%
White Bread (500g)
$5.68 $5.68
$1.57 ฿50.9
261.78%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.35 $6.35
$1.19 ฿38.62
433.61%
Eggs
$4.64 $4.64
$1.98 ฿64.1
134.34%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$20.29 $20.29
$15.99 ฿517
26.89%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.33 $12.33
$3.12 ฿101
295.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.32 $17.32
$11.16 ฿361
55.20%
Apples (1kg)
$5.56 $5.56
$2.76 ฿89.2
101.45%
Banana (1kg)
$1.76 $1.76
$1.22 ฿39.5
44.26%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.24 $4.24
$1.71 ฿55.4
147.95%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.72 $6.72
$1.55 ฿50.2
333.55%
Potato (1kg)
$2.54 $2.54
$1.34 ฿43.21
89.55%
Onion (1kg)
$3.44 $3.44
$1.21 ฿39.23
184.30%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.8 $2.8
$0.72 ฿23.2
288.89%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.93 $1.93
$0.53 ฿17.05
264.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.82 $9.82
$4.72 ฿153
108.05%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.95 $11.95
$18.39 ฿595
-35.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.39 $2.39
$1.79 ฿57.9
33.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.88 $4.88
$3.21 ฿104
52.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Cary, NC
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.83 $1.83
$0.94 ฿30.44
94.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$60.3 $60.3
$18.9 ฿612
219.15%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.41 $3.41
$1.42 ฿46.08
140.14%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.59 $1.59
$1.35 ฿43.53
17.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.98 $28.98
$7.85 ฿254
269.17%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.86 $0.86
$1.25 ฿40.4
-31.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.5K $29.5K
$21.2K ฿684.9K
39.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.3K $28.3K
$21.8K ฿706.8K
29.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cary, NC
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$172 $172
$70.6 ฿2,285
144.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$49.95 $49.95
$13.72 ฿444
264.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$62.7 $62.7
$17.56 ฿568
257.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cary, NC
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.9 $76.9
$41.64 ฿1,347
84.58%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.9 ฿223
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.64 $13.64
$5.8 ฿188
135.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cary, NC
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,472 $1,472
$308 ฿9,963
378.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.5K $23.5K
$14.7K ฿475.8K
59.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cary, NC
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.59 $47.59
$55.4 ฿1,793
-14.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.91 $31.91
$26.4 ฿854
20.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$127 $127
$85.1 ฿2,755
49.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$136 $136
$71.8 ฿2,323
89.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cary, NC
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,761 $1,761
$434 ฿14K
305.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,615 $1,615
$235 ฿7,610
586.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,600 $2,600
$821 ฿26.6K
216.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,689 $2,689
$498 ฿16.1K
439.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,871 $2,871
$2,180 ฿70.6K
31.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,659 $2,659
$1,543 ฿49.9K
72.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cary, NC
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,908 $5,908
$703 ฿22.8K
739.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.31
5
26.20%

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

Last update for Cary, NC: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

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