Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Aberdeen, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Aberdeen, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $872 in Chiang Mai versus $2,026 in Aberdeen, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,337 in Chiang Mai versus $3,034 in Aberdeen, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,802 in Chiang Mai versus $4,042 in Aberdeen, WA.

Living in Chiang Mai costs roughly 57% less than in Aberdeen, WA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Chiang Mai is 35% below, Aberdeen, WA is 50% above.

Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Aberdeen, WA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.01 เธฟ64.5
$21.04 $21.04
-90.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.23 เธฟ584
$101 $101
-82.01%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.65 เธฟ245
$12.20 $12.20
-37.30%
Cappuccino
$1.92 เธฟ61.5
$4.74 $4.74
-59.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 เธฟ26.97
$1.77 $1.77
-52.54%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 เธฟ11.42
$2.36 $2.36
-84.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.19 เธฟ70.2
$6.11 $6.11
-64.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 เธฟ121
$4.86 $4.86
-22.02%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Aberdeen, WA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 เธฟ52.5
$1.13 $1.13
45.13%
White Bread (500g)
$1.62 เธฟ52.0
$2.65 $2.65
-38.87%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.15 เธฟ36.98
$2.77 $2.77
-58.48%
Eggs
$1.94 เธฟ62.2
$5.10 $5.10
-61.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.94 เธฟ511
$9.91 $9.91
60.85%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.10 เธฟ99.5
$6.59 $6.59
-52.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.07 เธฟ355
$8.97 $8.97
23.41%
Apples (1kg)
$2.71 เธฟ86.8
$4.99 $4.99
-45.69%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 เธฟ37.80
$1.90 $1.90
-37.89%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 เธฟ54.7
$5.59 $5.59
-69.41%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.61 เธฟ51.5
$6.11 $6.11
-73.65%
Potato (1kg)
$1.39 เธฟ44.66
$2.76 $2.76
-49.64%
Onion (1kg)
$1.15 เธฟ36.81
$3.43 $3.43
-66.47%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 เธฟ22.83
$3.03 $3.03
-76.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 เธฟ17.65
$1.79 $1.79
-69.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.57 เธฟ146
$11.48 $11.48
-60.19%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.87 เธฟ605
$10.98 $10.98
71.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 เธฟ58.4
$1.75 $1.75
4.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 เธฟ103
$2.62 $2.62
22.52%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Aberdeen, WA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 เธฟ28.24
$1.02 $1.02
-13.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.89 เธฟ606
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 เธฟ45.30
$5.43 $5.43
-74.03%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.30 เธฟ41.71
$0.73 $0.73
78.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.20 เธฟ263
$28.71 $28.71
-71.44%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 เธฟ39.29
$1.17 $1.17
5.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K เธฟ678.9K
$30.1K $30.1K
-29.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.3K เธฟ715.3K
$25.5K $25.5K
-12.47%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Aberdeen, WA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$69.9 เธฟ2,240
$157 $157
-55.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.07 เธฟ451
$53.0 $53.0
-73.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.70 เธฟ567
$68.9 $68.9
-74.33%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Aberdeen, WA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.41 เธฟ1,328
$31.62 $31.62
30.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.69 เธฟ215
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.74 เธฟ184
$4.88 $4.88
17.62%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Aberdeen, WA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$299 เธฟ9,593
$1,039 $1,039
-71.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.0K เธฟ481.2K
$30.0K $30.0K
-50.04%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Aberdeen, WA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.8 เธฟ1,758
$45.53 $45.53
20.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.35 เธฟ845
$29.15 $29.15
-9.61%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.7 เธฟ2,714
$64.2 $64.2
31.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.7 เธฟ2,236
$112 $112
-37.84%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Aberdeen, WA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$427 เธฟ13.7K
$1,097 $1,097
-61.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$241 เธฟ7,718
$884 $884
-72.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$811 เธฟ26.0K
$1,728 $1,728
-53.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 เธฟ16.0K
$1,373 $1,373
-63.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,022 เธฟ64.8K
$3,012 $3,012
-32.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,524 เธฟ48.9K
$2,941 $2,941
-48.18%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Aberdeen, WA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$639 เธฟ20.5K
$4,378 $4,378
-85.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
6.51
-23.20%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 13, 2026

Last update for Aberdeen, WA: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $427 in Chiang Mai and $1,097 in Aberdeen, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Aberdeen, WA pays 585% 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: $18 in Chiang Mai vs $101 in Aberdeen, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $246 vs $333 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
Chiang Mai vs Aberdeen, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Aberdeen, WA cheaper than Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 132% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Chiang Mai or Aberdeen, WA?
On paper, Aberdeen, WA earns 585% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Chiang Mai and Aberdeen, WA?
Rent for a central apartment: $427 in Chiang Mai versus $1,097 in Aberdeen, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $299 in Chiang Mai versus $1,039 in Aberdeen, WA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Chiang Mai or Aberdeen, WA?
Dining out is cheaper in Chiang Mai โ€“ a meal for two runs $18.00 versus $101 in Aberdeen, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Chiang Mai or Aberdeen, WA?
At $872 in Chiang Mai versus $2,026 in Aberdeen, WA, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Aberdeen, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Chiang Mai or Aberdeen, WA more family-friendly?
For families, Chiang Mai is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Aberdeen, WA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Chiang Mai or Aberdeen, WA?
Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Aberdeen, WA 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 โ€“ expenses run 132% less than in Aberdeen, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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