Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Centennial, CO

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $936 a month against $3,179 in Centennial, CO, rent and utilities included – about $26,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Chiang Mai, Thailand
Centennial, CO, United States
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$936
/mo nomad
Centennial, CO
🇺🇸 United States
$3,179
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Centennial, CO

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 Centennial, CO actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,179 in Centennial, CO, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $936
  • Centennial, CO $3,179

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $4,417 in Centennial, CO, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,457
  • Centennial, CO $4,417

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $5,655 in Centennial, CO, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,979
  • Centennial, CO $5,655

Chiang Mai is about 71% cheaper than Centennial, CO, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Chiang Mai sits 31% below the global median, while Centennial, CO is 134% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Centennial, CO
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.24 ฿75.7
$19.97 $19.97
-88.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.00 ฿642
$85.9 $85.9
-77.88%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.55 ฿188
$12.96 $12.96
-57.18%
Cappuccino
$1.67 ฿56.6
$5.96 $5.96
-71.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 ฿21.56
$2.77 $2.77
-76.90%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ฿10.32
$2.23 $2.23
-86.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.36 ฿79.6
$6.89 $6.89
-65.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 ฿124
$8.04 $8.04
-54.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Centennial, CO
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.95 ฿65.8
$1.12 $1.12
74.11%
White Bread (500g)
$1.44 ฿48.51
$4.68 $4.68
-69.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 ฿45.07
$6.64 $6.64
-79.97%
Eggs
$2.28 ฿77.1
$6.04 $6.04
-62.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.45 ฿556
$14.58 $14.58
12.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.78 ฿94.0
$13.45 $13.45
-79.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.31 ฿314
$19.40 $19.40
-52.01%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 ฿79.5
$5.59 $5.59
-57.96%
Banana (1kg)
$0.97 ฿32.82
$2.18 $2.18
-55.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 ฿53.9
$4.71 $4.71
-66.03%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.7
$5.21 $5.21
-71.21%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 ฿43.15
$2.63 $2.63
-51.33%
Onion (1kg)
$1.10 ฿37.22
$2.66 $2.66
-58.65%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 ฿23.84
$2.30 $2.30
-69.13%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.38
$1.92 $1.92
-74.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.14 ฿140
$10.66 $10.66
-61.16%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.52 ฿592
$19.32 $19.32
-9.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61 ฿54.5
$2.73 $2.73
-41.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ฿94.0
$3.54 $3.54
-21.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Centennial, CO
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.87 ฿29.33
$5.48 $5.48
-84.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$54.1 ฿1,827
$88.9 $88.9
-39.12%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.16 ฿39.08
$3.75 $3.75
-69.07%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 ฿17.82
$1.38 $1.38
-61.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.42 ฿81.8
$24.86 $24.86
-90.27%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.93
$1.00 $1.00
45.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1K ฿711.2K
$30.3K $30.3K
-30.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K ฿909.8K
$26.0K $26.0K
3.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Centennial, CO
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.2 ฿2,100
$204 $204
-69.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.17 ฿411
$77.3 $77.3
-84.26%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.12 ฿680
$73.9 $73.9
-72.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Centennial, CO
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.31 ฿1,260
$61.6 $61.6
-39.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.77 ฿127
$19.84 $19.84
-81.00%
Cinema Ticket
$6.49 ฿219
$15.02 $15.02
-56.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Centennial, CO
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$736 ฿24.9K
$1,542 $1,542
-52.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿498.6K
$24.4K $24.4K
-39.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Centennial, CO
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.4 ฿1,802
$60.2 $60.2
-11.29%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.64 ฿832
$36.78 $36.78
-33.01%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.5 ฿3,089
$100 $100
-8.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.9 ฿2,429
$132 $132
-45.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Centennial, CO
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$482 ฿16.3K
$1,850 $1,850
-73.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 ฿10.4K
$1,653 $1,653
-81.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,006 ฿34.0K
$2,801 $2,801
-64.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$633 ฿21.4K
$2,253 $2,253
-71.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,363 ฿79.8K
$3,178 $3,178
-25.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,589 ฿53.7K
$2,893 $2,893
-45.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Centennial, CO
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$590 ฿19.9K
$6,397 $6,397
-90.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
6.72
-17.11%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Last update for Centennial, CO: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$309
Centennial, CO
$1.7K 435% $1.3K
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$234
Centennial, CO
$469 100% $234
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$109
Centennial, CO
$148 36.3% $39
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$94
Centennial, CO
$355 276% $261
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$78
Centennial, CO
$341 339% $263
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$61
Centennial, CO
$121 97.9% $60
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$50
Centennial, CO
$92 82.2% $41

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Chiang Mai versus $1,850 in Centennial, CO. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Centennial, CO are about 11 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $86 in Centennial, CO. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $234 vs $469 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇺🇸 Centennial, CO
🕒 Local time
06:00 6:00 AM
17:00 5:00 PM
13 h behind Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
109,741
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 33.77 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.59 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.898 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Mai Centennial, CO 13,070 km ≈ 17 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • Centennial, CO

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 Centennial, CO: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Chiang Mai and in Centennial, CO compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $936 in Chiang Mai, $3,179 in Centennial, CO – Chiang Mai comes out roughly 71% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.
What salary covers living expenses in Chiang Mai compared to Centennial, CO?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $4,768 in Centennial, CO. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Chiang Mai and Centennial, CO?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $482 there versus $1,850 in Centennial, CO.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai and $86 in Centennial, CO. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Chiang Mai or Centennial, CO?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $936 in Chiang Mai and $3,179 in Centennial, CO. That makes Chiang Mai about 71% cheaper.
Which city is feasible on a $800 budget?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $936 in Chiang Mai and $3,179 in Centennial, CO. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Where should families live: Chiang Mai or Centennial, CO?
Families tend to lean toward Chiang Mai – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Is Chiang Mai or Centennial, CO safer for residents?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
How do I decide between Chiang Mai and Centennial, CO?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Centennial, CO makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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