Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Lake Charles, LA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Lake Charles, LA

🙂 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 44.3% cheaper than Lake Charles, LA without rent, and 67.5% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 51.5% cheaper than Lake Charles, LA without rent, and 64.6% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Lake Charles, LA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.02 ฿65.3
$25.93 $25.93
-92.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.78 ฿608
$91.7 $91.7
-79.53%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.67 ฿248
$9.84 $9.84
-22.05%
Cappuccino
$1.98 ฿64.2
$4.34 $4.34
-54.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ฿26.64
$1.69 $1.69
-51.48%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ฿10.58
$2.15 $2.15
-84.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.12 ฿68.6
$5.89 $5.89
-64.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿121
$8.14 $8.14
-54.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Lake Charles, LA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ฿53.2
$1.33 $1.33
23.31%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ฿50.9
$3.99 $3.99
-60.65%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿38.62
$6.11 $6.11
-80.52%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿64.1
$4.52 $4.52
-56.19%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.99 ฿517
$14.83 $14.83
7.82%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 ฿101
$11.08 $11.08
-71.84%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.16 ฿361
$14.75 $14.75
-24.34%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 ฿89.2
$4.47 $4.47
-38.26%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿39.5
$1.28 $1.28
-4.69%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ฿55.4
$1.94 $1.94
-11.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 ฿50.2
$5.24 $5.24
-70.42%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 ฿43.21
$3.98 $3.98
-66.33%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 ฿39.23
$2.23 $2.23
-45.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿23.2
$2.18 $2.18
-66.97%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.05
$3.08 $3.08
-82.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.72 ฿153
$8.27 $8.27
-42.93%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.39 ฿595
$17.3 $17.3
6.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ฿57.9
$2 $2
-10.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ฿104
$3.48 $3.48
-7.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Lake Charles, LA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 ฿30.44
$1.94 $1.94
-51.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.9 ฿612
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 ฿46.08
$3.43 $3.43
-58.60%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿43.53
$1.45 $1.45
-6.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 ฿254
$35.51 $35.51
-77.89%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 ฿40.4
$0.83 $0.83
50.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿684.9K
$34.4K $34.4K
-38.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿706.8K
$28.3K $28.3K
-22.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Lake Charles, LA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.6 ฿2,285
$236 $236
-70.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.72 ฿444
$59 $59
-76.75%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.56 ฿568
$60.7 $60.7
-71.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Lake Charles, LA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.64 ฿1,347
$42.62 $42.62
-2.30%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.9 ฿223
$14.06 $14.06
-50.92%
Cinema Ticket
$5.8 ฿188
$11.33 $11.33
-48.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Lake Charles, LA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 ฿9,963
$1,559 $1,559
-80.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ฿475.8K
$10.1K $10.1K
45.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Lake Charles, LA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4 ฿1,793
$46.93 $46.93
18.05%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.4 ฿854
$41.43 $41.43
-36.28%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.1 ฿2,755
$75.9 $75.9
12.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8 ฿2,323
$98.2 $98.2
-26.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Lake Charles, LA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$434 ฿14K
$1,621 $1,621
-73.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 ฿7,610
$1,358 $1,358
-82.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$821 ฿26.6K
$2,637 $2,637
-68.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ฿16.1K
$2,203 $2,203
-77.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,180 ฿70.6K
$1,353 $1,353
61.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,543 ฿49.9K
$1,363 $1,363
13.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Lake Charles, LA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$703 ฿22.8K
$3,662 $3,662
-80.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
6.57
-23.90%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

Last update for Lake Charles, LA: October 28, 2025

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