Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Camarillo, CA

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $936 a month against $4,339 in Camarillo, CA, rent and utilities included – about $40,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Chiang Mai, Thailand
Camarillo, CA, United States
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$936
/mo nomad
Camarillo, CA
🇺🇸 United States
$4,339
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Camarillo, CA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Camarillo, CA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $936 in Chiang Mai versus $4,339 in Camarillo, CA.

  • Chiang Mai $936
  • Camarillo, CA $4,339

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,457 in Chiang Mai versus $5,470 in Camarillo, CA.

  • Chiang Mai $1,457
  • Camarillo, CA $5,470

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,979 in Chiang Mai versus $6,602 in Camarillo, CA.

  • Chiang Mai $1,979
  • Camarillo, CA $6,602

Living in Chiang Mai costs roughly 78% less than in Camarillo, CA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Chiang Mai is 31% below, Camarillo, CA is 219% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Camarillo, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.24 ฿75.6
$24.55 $24.55
-90.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.00 ฿641
$64.0 $64.0
-70.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.55 ฿187
$9.84 $9.84
-43.60%
Cappuccino
$1.67 ฿56.5
$5.51 $5.51
-69.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 ฿21.55
$2.70 $2.70
-76.30%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ฿10.31
$2.03 $2.03
-84.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.36 ฿79.6
$7.16 $7.16
-67.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 ฿124
$9.94 $9.94
-63.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Camarillo, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.95 ฿65.8
$0.76 $0.76
156.58%
White Bread (500g)
$1.44 ฿48.48
$1.62 $1.62
-11.11%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 ฿45.04
$4.37 $4.37
-69.57%
Eggs
$2.28 ฿77.1
$2.96 $2.96
-22.97%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.45 ฿555
$10.93 $10.93
50.50%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.78 ฿93.9
$10.94 $10.94
-74.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.31 ฿314
$13.77 $13.77
-32.39%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 ฿79.4
$5.56 $5.56
-57.73%
Banana (1kg)
$0.97 ฿32.80
$1.79 $1.79
-45.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 ฿53.9
$4.27 $4.27
-62.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.6
$6.43 $6.43
-76.67%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 ฿43.12
$3.48 $3.48
-63.22%
Onion (1kg)
$1.10 ฿37.19
$3.54 $3.54
-68.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 ฿23.82
$2.38 $2.38
-70.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.37
$2.30 $2.30
-78.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.14 ฿140
$9.98 $9.98
-58.52%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.52 ฿591
$9.87 $9.87
77.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61 ฿54.5
$1.72 $1.72
-6.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ฿94.0
$3.23 $3.23
-13.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Camarillo, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.87 ฿29.31
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$54.1 ฿1,826
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.16 ฿39.06
$4.47 $4.47
-74.05%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 ฿17.80
$1.81 $1.81
-70.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.42 ฿81.8
$36.31 $36.31
-93.34%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.90
$1.42 $1.42
2.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1K ฿710.7K
$27.7K $27.7K
-24.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K ฿909.3K
$26.2K $26.2K
2.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Camarillo, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.2 ฿2,098
$211 $211
-70.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.17 ฿411
$63.6 $63.6
-80.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.12 ฿679
$69.4 $69.4
-71.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Camarillo, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.31 ฿1,259
$32.67 $32.67
14.20%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.77 ฿127
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.49 ฿219
$12.11 $12.11
-46.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Camarillo, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$736 ฿24.8K
$1,871 $1,871
-60.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿498.3K
$42.2K $42.2K
-65.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Camarillo, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.4 ฿1,801
$51.5 $51.5
3.59%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.64 ฿831
$35.03 $35.03
-29.66%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.5 ฿3,087
$74.1 $74.1
23.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.9 ฿2,428
$124 $124
-41.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Camarillo, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$482 ฿16.3K
$2,206 $2,206
-78.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 ฿10.4K
$3,071 $3,071
-89.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,006 ฿33.9K
$4,280 $4,280
-76.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$633 ฿21.4K
$3,872 $3,872
-83.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,363 ฿79.8K
$6,391 $6,391
-63.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,589 ฿53.6K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Camarillo, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$590 ฿19.9K
$5,684 $5,684
-89.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
6.64
-16.11%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Last update for Camarillo, CA: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$309
Camarillo, CA
$3.1K 894% $2.8K
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$234
Camarillo, CA
$359 53.2% $125
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$109
Camarillo, CA
$128 17.8% $19
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$94
Camarillo, CA
$344 264% $249
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$78
Camarillo, CA
$367 373% $289
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$61
Camarillo, CA
$14 * 78% $48
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$50
Camarillo, CA
$57 13.1% $6.6

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $482 in Chiang Mai and $2,206 in Camarillo, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Camarillo, CA pays about 9.6 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $19 in Chiang Mai vs $64 in Camarillo, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $234 vs $359 per month, with Chiang Mai cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇺🇸 Camarillo, CA
🕒 Local time
17:05 5:05 PM
02:05 2:05 AM
15 h behind Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
62,489
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 33.75 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.66 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.896 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Mai Camarillo, CA 12,880 km ≈ 17 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • Camarillo, CA

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Camarillo, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chiang Mai cheaper than Camarillo, CA?
Chiang Mai is about 78% cheaper overall, especially in eating out, groceries, and utilities. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Chiang Mai or Camarillo, CA?
On paper, salaries run 90% lower in Chiang Mai. 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 Camarillo, CA?
Rent for a central apartment: $482 in Chiang Mai versus $2,206 in Camarillo, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Chiang Mai and in Camarillo, CA?
Supermarket bills run roughly 53% higher in Camarillo, CA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Chiang Mai and in Camarillo, CA?
All in, you’ll spend $936 per month in Chiang Mai versus $4,339 in Camarillo, CA – Chiang Mai is about 78% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Is $800 enough to cover costs in Chiang Mai or in Camarillo, CA?
Both cities are expensive relative to $800. Chiang Mai is the more realistic option, but even there you’ll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Is it better to live in Chiang Mai or in Camarillo, CA?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is safer, Chiang Mai or Camarillo, CA?
Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Camarillo, CA are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
It comes down to priorities – Chiang Mai wins on affordability, Camarillo, CA on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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