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

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 33% cheaper than Elgin, IL without rent, and 63% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 41.8% cheaper than Elgin, IL without rent, and 60.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Elgin, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.02 ΰΈΏ65.3
$15.15 $15.15
-86.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.78 ΰΈΏ608
$59.5 $59.5
-68.42%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.67 ΰΈΏ248
$10.04 $10.04
-23.61%
Cappuccino
$1.98 ΰΈΏ64.2
$4.04 $4.04
-50.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ΰΈΏ26.64
$2.63 $2.63
-68.82%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ΰΈΏ10.58
$1.97 $1.97
-83.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.12 ΰΈΏ68.6
$6.12 $6.12
-65.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ΰΈΏ121
$4.89 $4.89
-23.72%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Elgin, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ΰΈΏ53.2
$0.74 $0.74
121.62%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ΰΈΏ50.9
$3.69 $3.69
-57.45%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ΰΈΏ38.62
$5.37 $5.37
-77.84%
Eggs
$1.98 ΰΈΏ64.1
$3.95 $3.95
-49.87%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.99 ΰΈΏ517
$11.06 $11.06
44.58%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 ΰΈΏ101
$13.21 $13.21
-76.38%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.16 ΰΈΏ361
$10.81 $10.81
3.24%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 ΰΈΏ89.2
$2.24 $2.24
23.21%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ΰΈΏ39.5
$1.08 $1.08
12.96%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ΰΈΏ55.4
$1.63 $1.63
4.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 ΰΈΏ50.2
$2.71 $2.71
-42.80%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 ΰΈΏ43.21
$2.66 $2.66
-49.62%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 ΰΈΏ39.23
$2.92 $2.92
-58.56%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ΰΈΏ23.2
$1.96 $1.96
-63.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ΰΈΏ17.05
$2.06 $2.06
-74.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.72 ΰΈΏ153
$10.12 $10.12
-53.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.39 ΰΈΏ595
$11.78 $11.78
56.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ΰΈΏ57.9
$2.29 $2.29
-21.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ΰΈΏ104
$4.75 $4.75
-32.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Elgin, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 ΰΈΏ30.44
$2.03 $2.03
-53.69%
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
$2.22 $2.22
-39.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 ΰΈΏ254
$27.82 $27.82
-71.78%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 ΰΈΏ40.4
$0.83 $0.83
50.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ΰΈΏ684.9K
$24.6K $24.6K
-13.84%
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
Elgin, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.6 ΰΈΏ2,285
$98.6 $98.6
-28.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.72 ΰΈΏ444
$51.7 $51.7
-73.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.56 ΰΈΏ568
$50.1 $50.1
-64.92%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Elgin, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.64 ΰΈΏ1,347
$42.98 $42.98
-3.12%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.9 ΰΈΏ223
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.8 ΰΈΏ188
$15.13 $15.13
-61.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Elgin, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 ΰΈΏ9,963
$1,654 $1,654
-81.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ΰΈΏ475.8K
$24.5K $24.5K
-40.00%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Elgin, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4 ΰΈΏ1,793
$40.7 $40.7
36.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.4 ΰΈΏ854
$47.51 $47.51
-44.43%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.1 ΰΈΏ2,755
$101 $101
-15.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8 ΰΈΏ2,323
$131 $131
-45.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Elgin, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$434 ΰΈΏ14K
$1,594 $1,594
-72.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 ΰΈΏ7,610
$1,372 $1,372
-82.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$821 ΰΈΏ26.6K
$2,657 $2,657
-69.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ΰΈΏ16.1K
$2,267 $2,267
-78.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,180 ΰΈΏ70.6K
$2,725 $2,725
-19.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,543 ΰΈΏ49.9K
$2,428 $2,428
-36.45%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Elgin, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$703 ΰΈΏ22.8K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
6.55
-23.66%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

Last update for Elgin, IL: October 29, 2025

Similar cities

Join the CityCost newsletter – low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.