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 109.4% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 254.8% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Cary, NC is 177.6% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 229.8% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.64 $17.64

$2.03 ฿64.2

768.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.0 $99.0

$18.59 ฿588

432.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.42 $10.42

$7.48 ฿237

39.30%

Cappuccino

$4.99 $4.99

$2.00 ฿63.2

149.50%

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

$2.00 $2.00

$0.85 ฿26.81

135.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.90 $1.90

$0.35 ฿11.13

442.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.95 $4.95

$2.21 ฿70.0

123.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.62 $6.62

$3.76 ฿119

76.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.16 $1.16

$1.72 ฿54.4

-32.56%

White Bread (500g)

$5.43 $5.43

$1.63 ฿51.7

233.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.29 $6.29

$1.16 ฿36.66

442.24%

Eggs

$4.64 $4.64

$1.98 ฿62.6

134.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$20.74 $20.74

$15.93 ฿504

30.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.30 $12.30

$3.17 ฿100

288.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.34 $17.34

$10.90 ฿345

59.08%

Apples (1kg)

$5.84 $5.84

$2.65 ฿83.7

120.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.22 ฿38.70

50.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.26 $4.26

$1.70 ฿53.7

150.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.50 $6.50

$1.59 ฿50.3

308.81%

Potato (1kg)

$2.50 $2.50

$1.32 ฿41.90

89.39%

Onion (1kg)

$3.47 $3.47

$1.17 ฿36.99

196.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.91 $2.91

$0.68 ฿21.46

327.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.02 $2.02

$0.56 ฿17.64

260.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.31 $9.31

$4.51 ฿143

106.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.96 $11.96

$19.07 ฿604

-37.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.32 $2.32

$1.77 ฿56.0

31.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.07 $5.07

$3.18 ฿101

59.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.83 $1.83

$0.96 ฿30.47

90.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$59.7 $59.7

$18.90 ฿598

216.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.59 $3.59

$1.36 ฿42.98

163.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.64 $1.64

$1.35 ฿42.80

21.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.54 $29.54

$8.03 ฿254

267.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 $0.81

$1.24 ฿39.34

-34.68%

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

$30.0K $30.0K

$21.2K ฿669.8K

41.57%

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

$28.6K $28.6K

$21.8K ฿688.5K

31.29%

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

$171 $171

$71.2 ฿2,255

139.98%

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

$49.49 $49.49

$14.09 ฿446

251.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.5 $61.5

$17.47 ฿553

252.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.3 $75.3

$42.07 ฿1,332

78.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿218

Cinema Ticket

$13.61 $13.61

$5.94 ฿188

129.12%

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

$1,489 $1,489

$307 ฿9,728

384.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.2K $23.2K

$14.8K ฿468.2K

56.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.27 $48.27

$55.7 ฿1,762

-13.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.42 $32.42

$26.79 ฿848

21.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$129 $129

$83.2 ฿2,634

55.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$136 $136

$70.1 ฿2,219

93.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,815 $1,815

$427 ฿13.5K

324.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,617 $1,617

$237 ฿7,504

582.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,601 $2,601

$802 ฿25.4K

224.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,681 $2,681

$503 ฿15.9K

432.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,804 $2,804

$2,061 ฿65.2K

36.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,628 $2,628

$1,533 ฿48.5K

71.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,012 $6,012

$654 ฿20.7K

819.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.31

26.20%

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

Last update for Cary, NC: March 1, 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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