Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Ames, IA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Ames, IA

🙂 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 53.3% cheaper than Ames, IA without rent, and 58% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 49% cheaper than Ames, IA without rent, and 56.3% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.02 ฿65.3

$18.07 $18.07

-88.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.78 ฿608

$44.34 $44.34

-57.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.67 ฿248

$9.04 $9.04

-15.15%

Cappuccino

$1.98 ฿64.2

$5.27 $5.27

-62.43%

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

$0.82 ฿26.64

$1.95 $1.95

-57.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ฿10.58

$1.74 $1.74

-81.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.12 ฿68.6

$2.99 $2.99

-29.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿121

$6.94 $6.94

-46.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.2

$1.01 $1.01

62.38%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿50.9

$3.65 $3.65

-56.99%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.62

$3.11 $3.11

-61.74%

Eggs

$1.98 ฿64.1

$3.29 $3.29

-39.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.99 ฿517

$9.44 $9.44

69.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿101

$11.6 $11.6

-73.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.16 ฿361

$14.09 $14.09

-20.79%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿89.2

$5.09 $5.09

-45.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.5

$1.15 $1.15

6.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿55.4

$5.79 $5.79

-70.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 ฿50.2

$5.1 $5.1

-69.61%

Potato (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.21

$3.76 $3.76

-64.36%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.23

$3.75 $3.75

-67.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.2

$1.99 $1.99

-63.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.05

$1.97 $1.97

-73.10%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.72 ฿153

$9 $9

-47.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.39 ฿595

$16.23 $16.23

13.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿57.9

$1.71 $1.71

4.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.21 ฿104

$4.38 $4.38

-26.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿30.44

$1.49 $1.49

-36.91%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.9 ฿612

$47.13 $47.13

-59.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 ฿46.08

$4.9 $4.9

-71.02%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿43.53

$1.39 $1.39

-2.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.85 ฿254

$49.16 $49.16

-84.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 ฿40.4

$0.8 $0.8

56.25%

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

$21.2K ฿684.9K

$24.7K $24.7K

-14.32%

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

$21.8K ฿706.8K

$25.5K $25.5K

-14.42%

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

$70.6 ฿2,285

$189 $189

-62.64%

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

$13.72 ฿444

$48.48 $48.48

-71.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.56 ฿568

$74.3 $74.3

-76.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.64 ฿1,347

$68.5 $68.5

-39.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.9 ฿223

$19.74 $19.74

-65.05%

Cinema Ticket

$5.8 ฿188

$13.9 $13.9

-58.27%

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

$308 ฿9,963

$1,470 $1,470

-79.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿475.8K

$30.2K $30.2K

-51.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.4 ฿1,793

$38.64 $38.64

43.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.4 ฿854

$42.65 $42.65

-38.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.1 ฿2,755

$84.4 $84.4

0.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.8 ฿2,323

$116 $116

-37.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$434 ฿14K

$989 $989

-56.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$235 ฿7,610

$837 $837

-71.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$821 ฿26.6K

$1,931 $1,931

-57.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$498 ฿16.1K

$1,676 $1,676

-70.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,180 ฿70.6K

$2,346 $2,346

-7.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,543 ฿49.9K

$2,182 $2,182

-29.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$703 ฿22.8K

$3,732 $3,732

-81.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.02

-16.94%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

Last update for Ames, IA: October 28, 2025

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