Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Chicago, IL

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 57.1% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 71.1% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 60% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 70.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.02 ΰΈΏ65.3
$20.82 $20.82
-90.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.78 ΰΈΏ608
$100 $100
-81.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.67 ΰΈΏ248
$11.97 $11.97
-35.92%
Cappuccino
$1.98 ΰΈΏ64.2
$5.56 $5.56
-64.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ΰΈΏ26.64
$3.11 $3.11
-73.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ΰΈΏ10.58
$2.42 $2.42
-86.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.12 ΰΈΏ68.6
$6.86 $6.86
-69.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ΰΈΏ121
$8.45 $8.45
-55.86%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ΰΈΏ53.2
$1.04 $1.04
57.69%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ΰΈΏ50.9
$4.15 $4.15
-62.17%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ΰΈΏ38.62
$5.52 $5.52
-78.44%
Eggs
$1.98 ΰΈΏ64.1
$4.65 $4.65
-57.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.99 ΰΈΏ517
$14.33 $14.33
11.58%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 ΰΈΏ101
$14.88 $14.88
-79.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.16 ΰΈΏ361
$19.34 $19.34
-42.30%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 ΰΈΏ89.2
$5.17 $5.17
-46.62%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ΰΈΏ39.5
$1.71 $1.71
-28.65%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ΰΈΏ55.4
$4.41 $4.41
-61.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 ΰΈΏ50.2
$4.51 $4.51
-65.63%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 ΰΈΏ43.21
$2.53 $2.53
-47.04%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 ΰΈΏ39.23
$2.74 $2.74
-55.84%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ΰΈΏ23.2
$2.43 $2.43
-70.37%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ΰΈΏ17.05
$2.7 $2.7
-80.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.72 ΰΈΏ153
$15.19 $15.19
-68.93%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.39 ΰΈΏ595
$16.42 $16.42
12.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ΰΈΏ57.9
$2.35 $2.35
-23.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ΰΈΏ104
$3.7 $3.7
-13.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 ΰΈΏ30.44
$2.53 $2.53
-62.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.9 ΰΈΏ612
$74.1 $74.1
-74.50%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 ΰΈΏ46.08
$3.34 $3.34
-57.49%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ΰΈΏ43.53
$1.42 $1.42
-4.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 ΰΈΏ254
$25.42 $25.42
-69.12%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 ΰΈΏ40.4
$1.08 $1.08
15.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ΰΈΏ684.9K
$32.4K $32.4K
-34.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ΰΈΏ706.8K
$26.2K $26.2K
-16.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.6 ΰΈΏ2,285
$188 $188
-62.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.72 ΰΈΏ444
$63.7 $63.7
-78.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.56 ΰΈΏ568
$65.2 $65.2
-73.07%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.64 ΰΈΏ1,347
$76.7 $76.7
-45.72%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.9 ΰΈΏ223
$13.03 $13.03
-47.05%
Cinema Ticket
$5.8 ΰΈΏ188
$14.93 $14.93
-61.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 ΰΈΏ9,963
$2,063 $2,063
-85.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ΰΈΏ475.8K
$39.2K $39.2K
-62.47%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4 ΰΈΏ1,793
$64.3 $64.3
-13.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.4 ΰΈΏ854
$52.4 $52.4
-49.61%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.1 ΰΈΏ2,755
$95.2 $95.2
-10.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8 ΰΈΏ2,323
$145 $145
-50.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$434 ΰΈΏ14K
$2,378 $2,378
-81.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 ΰΈΏ7,610
$1,584 $1,584
-85.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$821 ΰΈΏ26.6K
$4,763 $4,763
-82.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ΰΈΏ16.1K
$2,815 $2,815
-82.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,180 ΰΈΏ70.6K
$3,588 $3,588
-39.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,543 ΰΈΏ49.9K
$2,490 $2,490
-38.04%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$703 ΰΈΏ22.8K
$5,275 $5,275
-86.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
6.6
-24.24%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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