Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Des Moines, IA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Des Moines, IA

🙂 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 51.6% cheaper than Des Moines, IA without rent, and 58.7% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 53.2% cheaper than Des Moines, IA without rent, and 55.7% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.02 ฿65.3

$15.83 $15.83

-87.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.78 ฿608

$79.4 $79.4

-76.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.67 ฿248

$12.17 $12.17

-36.98%

Cappuccino

$1.98 ฿64.2

$4.78 $4.78

-58.58%

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

$0.82 ฿26.64

$2.32 $2.32

-64.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ฿10.58

$1.93 $1.93

-82.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.12 ฿68.6

$4.86 $4.86

-56.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿121

$6.97 $6.97

-46.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.2

$0.97 $0.97

69.07%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿50.9

$2.57 $2.57

-38.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.62

$2.26 $2.26

-47.35%

Eggs

$1.98 ฿64.1

$3.72 $3.72

-46.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.99 ฿517

$12.89 $12.89

24.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿101

$10.58 $10.58

-70.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.16 ฿361

$12.82 $12.82

-12.95%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿89.2

$4.33 $4.33

-36.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.5

$1.44 $1.44

-15.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿55.4

$3.75 $3.75

-54.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 ฿50.2

$3.61 $3.61

-57.06%

Potato (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.21

$1.66 $1.66

-19.28%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.23

$2.97 $2.97

-59.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.2

$2.29 $2.29

-68.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.05

$1.08 $1.08

-50.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.72 ฿153

$7.17 $7.17

-34.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.39 ฿595

$13.95 $13.95

31.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿57.9

$1.78 $1.78

0.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.21 ฿104

$4.11 $4.11

-21.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿30.44

$1.7 $1.7

-44.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.9 ฿612

$57 $57

-66.84%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 ฿46.08

$1.94 $1.94

-26.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿43.53

$1.23 $1.23

9.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.85 ฿254

$19.71 $19.71

-60.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 ฿40.4

$0.81 $0.81

54.32%

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

$21.2K ฿684.9K

$25.7K $25.7K

-17.63%

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

$21.8K ฿706.8K

$24.9K $24.9K

-12.14%

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

$70.6 ฿2,285

$145 $145

-51.28%

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

$13.72 ฿444

$52.1 $52.1

-73.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.56 ฿568

$54.2 $54.2

-67.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.64 ฿1,347

$66.1 $66.1

-37.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.9 ฿223

$20.16 $20.16

-65.77%

Cinema Ticket

$5.8 ฿188

$15.29 $15.29

-62.07%

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

$308 ฿9,963

$1,380 $1,380

-77.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿475.8K

$12K $12K

22.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.4 ฿1,793

$53 $53

4.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.4 ฿854

$42.04 $42.04

-37.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.1 ฿2,755

$74 $74

14.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.8 ฿2,323

$127 $127

-43.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$434 ฿14K

$1,226 $1,226

-64.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$235 ฿7,610

$896 $896

-73.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$821 ฿26.6K

$1,740 $1,740

-52.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$498 ฿16.1K

$1,494 $1,494

-66.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,180 ฿70.6K

$2,284 $2,284

-4.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,543 ฿49.9K

$2,291 $2,291

-32.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$703 ฿22.8K

$3,655 $3,655

-80.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

-23.08%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

Last update for Des Moines, IA: October 28, 2025

Similar cities

Medellin

🇨🇴 Colombia

Bansko

🇧🇬 Bulgaria

Cebu

🇵🇭 Philippines

Almaty

🇰🇿 Kazakhstan

Bogota

🇨🇴 Colombia

Beijing (Pekin)

🇨🇳 China

Rio de Janeiro

🇧🇷 Brazil

Nairobi

🇰🇪 Kenya