Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Artesia, NM Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Artesia, NM

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $845 in Chiang Mai versus $2,417 in Artesia, NM.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,323 in Chiang Mai versus $3,472 in Artesia, NM.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,802 in Chiang Mai versus $4,527 in Artesia, NM.

Living in Chiang Mai costs roughly 65% less than in Artesia, NM, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Chiang Mai is 37% below, Artesia, NM is 80% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.95 ฿62.8

$16.24 $16.24

-87.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.43 ฿594

$48.16 $48.16

-61.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.50 ฿241

$11.90 $11.90

-36.97%

Cappuccino

$1.93 ฿62.3

$6.34 $6.34

-69.56%

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

$0.78 ฿25.08

$2.75 $2.75

-71.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.42

$1.89 $1.89

-83.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.15 ฿69.2

$4.85 $4.85

-55.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 ฿120

$5.94 $5.94

-37.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿55.2

$0.91 $0.91

87.91%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 ฿50.3

$2.44 $2.44

-36.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.06

$2.53 $2.53

-53.36%

Eggs

$1.98 ฿63.9

$3.41 $3.41

-41.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.04 ฿517

$11.36 $11.36

41.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ฿102

$11.15 $11.15

-71.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿353

$11.99 $11.99

-8.76%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿84.7

$4.01 $4.01

-34.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿37.61

$1.27 $1.27

-7.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 ฿53.0

$4.04 $4.04

-59.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.54 ฿49.51

$4.48 $4.48

-65.63%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿44.34

$3.57 $3.57

-61.34%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿37.54

$2.88 $2.88

-59.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.25

$2.16 $2.16

-69.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.55

$1.61 $1.61

-68.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.52 ฿146

$11.99 $11.99

-62.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.32 ฿590

$8.12 $8.12

125.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿57.9

$2.13 $2.13

-15.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ฿102

$4.57 $4.57

-30.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿28.97

$1.95 $1.95

-53.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.00 ฿612

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.50

$1.70 $1.70

-17.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.31 ฿42.15

$1.60 $1.60

-18.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.09 ฿261

$27.16 $27.16

-70.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 ฿41.08

$0.72 $0.72

77.78%

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

$21.3K ฿686.1K

$23.8K $23.8K

-10.43%

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

$21.7K ฿699.3K

$25.9K $25.9K

-16.16%

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

$69.2 ฿2,230

$152 $152

-54.48%

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

$13.97 ฿450

$64.9 $64.9

-78.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.95 ฿578

$71.3 $71.3

-74.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.31 ฿1,363

$42.98 $42.98

-1.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.66 ฿214

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿191

$8.21 $8.21

-27.89%

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

$299 ฿9,640

$582 $582

-48.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿478.4K

$7,013 $7,013

111.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,810

$37.27 $37.27

50.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.94 ฿868

$40.57 $40.57

-33.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.9 ฿2,735

$85.2 $85.2

-0.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.8 ฿2,314

$78.8 $78.8

-8.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$435 ฿14.0K

$1,605 $1,605

-72.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$240 ฿7,727

$1,338 $1,338

-82.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$798 ฿25.7K

$2,638 $2,638

-69.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$498 ฿16.1K

$2,207 $2,207

-77.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,995 ฿64.3K

$2,700 $2,700

-26.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,532 ฿49.4K

$2,401 $2,401

-36.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$628 ฿20.2K

$3,569 $3,569

-82.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

-23.20%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 20, 2026

Last update for Artesia, NM: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $435 in Chiang Mai and $1,605 in Artesia, NM. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Artesia, NM pays 468% 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 $48 in Artesia, NM for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $244 vs $330 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 Artesia, NM: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai wins on cost – living expenses run 186% lower than in Artesia, NM. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Chiang Mai the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Artesia, NM earns 468% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $435 in Chiang Mai versus $1,605 in Artesia, NM. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $299 in Chiang Mai versus $582 in Artesia, NM. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Chiang Mai – a meal for two runs $18.00 versus $48.00 in Artesia, NM. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $845 in Chiang Mai versus $2,417 in Artesia, NM, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Artesia, NM. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Chiang Mai delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $845 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Chiang Mai hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Artesia, NM are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Chiang Mai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 186% less than in Artesia, NM. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.