ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $845 in Chiang Mai versus $2,480 in Ashland, OR.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,323 in Chiang Mai versus $3,598 in Ashland, OR.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,802 in Chiang Mai versus $4,716 in Ashland, OR.
ðLiving in Chiang Mai costs roughly 66% less than in Ashland, OR, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðThe two cities straddle the global median: Chiang Mai is 37% below, Ashland, OR is 85% above.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Ashland, OR
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.95āļŋ62.8
$15.08$15.08
-87.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.43āļŋ594
$69.1$69.1
-73.34%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.50āļŋ241
$10.13$10.13
-25.96%
Cappuccino
$1.93āļŋ62.3
$4.96$4.96
-61.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78āļŋ25.08
$1.97$1.97
-60.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32āļŋ10.42
$2.09$2.09
-84.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.15āļŋ69.2
$6.05$6.05
-64.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.71āļŋ120
$8.20$8.20
-54.76%
ð Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Ashland, OR
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71āļŋ55.2
$0.89$0.89
92.13%
White Bread(500g)
$1.56āļŋ50.3
$3.87$3.87
-59.69%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.18āļŋ38.06
$3.97$3.97
-70.28%
Eggs
$1.98āļŋ63.9
$1.73$1.73
14.45%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.04āļŋ517
$12.15$12.15
32.02%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.17āļŋ102
$14.43$14.43
-78.03%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.94āļŋ353
$14.60$14.60
-25.07%
Apples(1kg)
$2.63āļŋ84.7
$4.23$4.23
-37.83%
Banana(1kg)
$1.17āļŋ37.61
$1.57$1.57
-25.48%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.65āļŋ53.0
$3.34$3.34
-50.60%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.54āļŋ49.51
$3.50$3.50
-56.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.38āļŋ44.34
$2.04$2.04
-32.35%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17āļŋ37.54
$1.69$1.69
-30.77%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.66āļŋ21.25
$1.94$1.94
-65.98%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51āļŋ16.55
$1.71$1.71
-70.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.52āļŋ146
$10.16$10.16
-55.51%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.32āļŋ590
$8.75$8.75
109.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80āļŋ57.9
$1.76$1.76
2.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18āļŋ102
$2.42$2.42
31.40%
ð Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Ashland, OR
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.90āļŋ28.97
$1.97$1.97
-54.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.00āļŋ612
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41āļŋ45.50
$4.07$4.07
-65.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.31āļŋ42.15
$1.21$1.21
8.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.09āļŋ261
$29.56$29.56
-72.63%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28āļŋ41.08
$1.05$1.05
21.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.3Kāļŋ686.1K
$33.7K$33.7K
-36.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.7Kāļŋ699.3K
$25.7K$25.7K
-15.46%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Ashland, OR
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$69.2āļŋ2,230
$126$126
-45.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.97āļŋ450
$51.6$51.6
-72.93%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.95āļŋ578
$58.7$58.7
-69.43%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Ashland, OR
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.31āļŋ1,363
$42.29$42.29
0.05%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.66āļŋ214
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.92āļŋ191
$13.91$13.91
-57.44%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Ashland, OR
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$299āļŋ9,640
$1,472$1,472
-79.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8Kāļŋ478.4K
$12.3K$12.3K
21.05%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Ashland, OR
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.2āļŋ1,810
$56.4$56.4
-0.34%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.94āļŋ868
$40.77$40.77
-33.92%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.9āļŋ2,735
$108$108
-21.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8āļŋ2,314
$105$105
-31.65%
ð Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Ashland, OR
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$435āļŋ14.0K
$1,610$1,610
-72.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$240āļŋ7,727
$1,359$1,359
-82.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$798āļŋ25.7K
$2,600$2,600
-69.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$498āļŋ16.1K
$2,188$2,188
-77.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,995āļŋ64.3K
$4,817$4,817
-58.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,532āļŋ49.4K
$2,671$2,671
-42.66%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Ashland, OR
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$628āļŋ20.2K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
6.53
-23.43%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 20, 2026
Last update for Ashland, OR: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $435 in Chiang Mai and $1,610 in Ashland, OR. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ðDining out: $18 in Chiang Mai vs $69 in Ashland, OR for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $244 vs $353 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 Ashland, OR: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ashland, OR cheaper than Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 194% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,267 in Chiang Mai and $3,720 in Ashland, OR to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Chiang Mai and Ashland, OR?
Rent for a central apartment: $435 in Chiang Mai versus $1,610 in Ashland, OR. 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 $1,472 in Ashland, OR. 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 Ashland, OR?
Dining out is cheaper in Chiang Mai â a meal for two runs $18.00 versus $69.0 in Ashland, OR. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Chiang Mai or Ashland, OR?
At $845 in Chiang Mai versus $2,480 in Ashland, OR, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Ashland, OR. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Chiang Mai or Ashland, OR more family-friendly?
For families, Chiang Mai is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Ashland, OR, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Chiang Mai or Ashland, OR?
Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Ashland, OR 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 â expenses run 194% less than in Ashland, OR. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared