Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and California, MD Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and California, MD

🙂 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 53.8% cheaper than California, MD without rent, and 66.1% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 52.4% cheaper than California, MD without rent, and 61.3% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.02 ฿65.3

$9.09 $9.09

-77.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.78 ฿608

$80.9 $80.9

-76.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.67 ฿248

$10.05 $10.05

-23.68%

Cappuccino

$1.98 ฿64.2

$5.9 $5.9

-66.44%

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

$0.82 ฿26.64

$2.76 $2.76

-70.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ฿10.58

$2.24 $2.24

-85.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.12 ฿68.6

$5.34 $5.34

-60.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿121

$7.03 $7.03

-46.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.2

$0.97 $0.97

69.07%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿50.9

$3.21 $3.21

-51.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.62

$2.24 $2.24

-46.88%

Eggs

$1.98 ฿64.1

$5 $5

-60.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.99 ฿517

$13.42 $13.42

19.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿101

$10.3 $10.3

-69.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.16 ฿361

$11.09 $11.09

0.63%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿89.2

$4.47 $4.47

-38.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.5

$1.8 $1.8

-32.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿55.4

$4.37 $4.37

-60.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 ฿50.2

$6.52 $6.52

-76.23%

Potato (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.21

$3.54 $3.54

-62.15%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.23

$2.79 $2.79

-56.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.2

$1.97 $1.97

-63.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.05

$2.01 $2.01

-73.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.72 ฿153

$9.22 $9.22

-48.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.39 ฿595

$13.8 $13.8

33.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿57.9

$1.69 $1.69

5.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.21 ฿104

$5.14 $5.14

-37.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿30.44

$2.06 $2.06

-54.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.9 ฿612

$80 $80

-76.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 ฿46.08

$4.04 $4.04

-64.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿43.53

$1.4 $1.4

-3.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.85 ฿254

$28.93 $28.93

-72.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 ฿40.4

$0.82 $0.82

52.44%

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

$21.2K ฿684.9K

$29.6K $29.6K

-28.62%

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

$21.8K ฿706.8K

$22.9K $22.9K

-4.57%

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

$70.6 ฿2,285

$207 $207

-65.93%

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

$13.72 ฿444

$41.79 $41.79

-67.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.56 ฿568

$69.4 $69.4

-74.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.64 ฿1,347

$40.07 $40.07

3.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.9 ฿223

$11.17 $11.17

-38.23%

Cinema Ticket

$5.8 ฿188

$15.22 $15.22

-61.89%

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

$308 ฿9,963

$2,204 $2,204

-86.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿475.8K

$23.7K $23.7K

-37.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.4 ฿1,793

$53.8 $53.8

2.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.4 ฿854

$47.1 $47.1

-43.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.1 ฿2,755

$95.3 $95.3

-10.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.8 ฿2,323

$135 $135

-46.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$434 ฿14K

$1,719 $1,719

-74.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$235 ฿7,610

$1,329 $1,329

-82.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$821 ฿26.6K

$2,426 $2,426

-66.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$498 ฿16.1K

$2,127 $2,127

-76.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,180 ฿70.6K

$6,754 $6,754

-67.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,543 ฿49.9K

$6,379 $6,379

-75.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$703 ฿22.8K

$6,909 $6,909

-89.82%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.48

-22.84%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

Last update for California, MD: October 28, 2025

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