Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Des Plaines, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Des Plaines, IL

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 46.5% cheaper than Des Plaines, IL without rent, and 66.4% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 45.5% cheaper than Des Plaines, IL without rent, and 62.6% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Des Plaines, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.02 ΰΈΏ65.3
$14.84 $14.84
-86.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.78 ΰΈΏ608
$81.2 $81.2
-76.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.67 ΰΈΏ248
$10.91 $10.91
-29.70%
Cappuccino
$1.98 ΰΈΏ64.2
$5.47 $5.47
-63.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ΰΈΏ26.64
$2.72 $2.72
-69.85%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ΰΈΏ10.58
$2.33 $2.33
-85.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.12 ΰΈΏ68.6
$5.92 $5.92
-64.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ΰΈΏ121
$7.18 $7.18
-48.05%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Des Plaines, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ΰΈΏ53.2
$0.87 $0.87
88.51%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ΰΈΏ50.9
$3.97 $3.97
-60.45%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ΰΈΏ38.62
$5.09 $5.09
-76.62%
Eggs
$1.98 ΰΈΏ64.1
$4.01 $4.01
-50.62%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.99 ΰΈΏ517
$13.81 $13.81
15.79%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 ΰΈΏ101
$13.53 $13.53
-76.94%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.16 ΰΈΏ361
$16.24 $16.24
-31.28%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 ΰΈΏ89.2
$4.37 $4.37
-36.84%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ΰΈΏ39.5
$1.67 $1.67
-26.95%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ΰΈΏ55.4
$4.2 $4.2
-59.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 ΰΈΏ50.2
$4.57 $4.57
-66.08%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 ΰΈΏ43.21
$2.54 $2.54
-47.24%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 ΰΈΏ39.23
$2.73 $2.73
-55.68%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ΰΈΏ23.2
$2.03 $2.03
-64.53%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ΰΈΏ17.05
$2.05 $2.05
-74.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.72 ΰΈΏ153
$14.7 $14.7
-67.89%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.39 ΰΈΏ595
$12.15 $12.15
51.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ΰΈΏ57.9
$2.3 $2.3
-22.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ΰΈΏ104
$3.72 $3.72
-13.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Des Plaines, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 ΰΈΏ30.44
$1.98 $1.98
-52.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.9 ΰΈΏ612
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 ΰΈΏ46.08
$4.37 $4.37
-67.51%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ΰΈΏ43.53
$1.44 $1.44
-6.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 ΰΈΏ254
$24.7 $24.7
-68.22%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 ΰΈΏ40.4
$1.09 $1.09
14.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ΰΈΏ684.9K
$25K $25K
-15.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ΰΈΏ706.8K
$25.5K $25.5K
-14.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Des Plaines, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.6 ΰΈΏ2,285
$187 $187
-62.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.72 ΰΈΏ444
$51.4 $51.4
-73.31%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.56 ΰΈΏ568
$67.4 $67.4
-73.93%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Des Plaines, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.64 ΰΈΏ1,347
$42.76 $42.76
-2.62%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.9 ΰΈΏ223
$40.19 $40.19
-82.83%
Cinema Ticket
$5.8 ΰΈΏ188
$14.78 $14.78
-60.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Des Plaines, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 ΰΈΏ9,963
$1,616 $1,616
-80.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ΰΈΏ475.8K
$24.2K $24.2K
-39.34%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Des Plaines, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4 ΰΈΏ1,793
$64.1 $64.1
-13.59%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.4 ΰΈΏ854
$48.05 $48.05
-45.06%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.1 ΰΈΏ2,755
$95.8 $95.8
-11.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8 ΰΈΏ2,323
$134 $134
-46.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Des Plaines, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$434 ΰΈΏ14K
$1,598 $1,598
-72.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 ΰΈΏ7,610
$1,341 $1,341
-82.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$821 ΰΈΏ26.6K
$2,622 $2,622
-68.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ΰΈΏ16.1K
$2,228 $2,228
-77.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,180 ΰΈΏ70.6K
$3,167 $3,167
-31.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,543 ΰΈΏ49.9K
$2,466 $2,466
-37.45%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Des Plaines, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$703 ΰΈΏ22.8K
$6,159 $6,159
-88.58%
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 Des Plaines, IL: October 28, 2025

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