Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Lake Forest, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Lake Forest, CA

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 54.1% cheaper than Lake Forest, CA without rent, and 70.2% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 59.1% cheaper than Lake Forest, CA without rent, and 69.8% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Lake Forest, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.02 ΰΈΏ65.3
$24.57 $24.57
-91.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.78 ΰΈΏ608
$100 $100
-81.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.67 ΰΈΏ248
$10.11 $10.11
-24.13%
Cappuccino
$1.98 ΰΈΏ64.2
$5.91 $5.91
-66.50%
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
$2.24 $2.24
-85.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.12 ΰΈΏ68.6
$8.48 $8.48
-75.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ΰΈΏ121
$8.84 $8.84
-57.81%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Lake Forest, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ΰΈΏ53.2
$1.24 $1.24
32.26%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ΰΈΏ50.9
$4.27 $4.27
-63.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ΰΈΏ38.62
$4.61 $4.61
-74.19%
Eggs
$1.98 ΰΈΏ64.1
$4.47 $4.47
-55.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.99 ΰΈΏ517
$12.47 $12.47
28.23%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 ΰΈΏ101
$17.03 $17.03
-81.68%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.16 ΰΈΏ361
$19.22 $19.22
-41.94%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 ΰΈΏ89.2
$6.56 $6.56
-57.93%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ΰΈΏ39.5
$1.9 $1.9
-35.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ΰΈΏ55.4
$4.14 $4.14
-58.70%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 ΰΈΏ50.2
$5.42 $5.42
-71.40%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 ΰΈΏ43.21
$3.21 $3.21
-58.26%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 ΰΈΏ39.23
$3.08 $3.08
-60.71%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ΰΈΏ23.2
$1.91 $1.91
-62.30%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ΰΈΏ17.05
$2.12 $2.12
-75.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.72 ΰΈΏ153
$9.75 $9.75
-51.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.39 ΰΈΏ595
$19.65 $19.65
-6.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ΰΈΏ57.9
$1.76 $1.76
1.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ΰΈΏ104
$3.9 $3.9
-17.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Lake Forest, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 ΰΈΏ30.44
$3.42 $3.42
-72.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.9 ΰΈΏ612
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 ΰΈΏ46.08
$3.04 $3.04
-53.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ΰΈΏ43.53
$2.68 $2.68
-49.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 ΰΈΏ254
$29.53 $29.53
-73.42%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 ΰΈΏ40.4
$1.29 $1.29
-3.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ΰΈΏ684.9K
$28.5K $28.5K
-25.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ΰΈΏ706.8K
$26.5K $26.5K
-17.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Lake Forest, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.6 ΰΈΏ2,285
$202 $202
-65.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.72 ΰΈΏ444
$54.8 $54.8
-74.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.56 ΰΈΏ568
$71.9 $71.9
-75.58%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Lake Forest, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.64 ΰΈΏ1,347
$51 $51
-18.34%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.9 ΰΈΏ223
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.8 ΰΈΏ188
$17.17 $17.17
-66.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Lake Forest, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 ΰΈΏ9,963
$1,823 $1,823
-83.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ΰΈΏ475.8K
$24.1K $24.1K
-38.99%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Lake Forest, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4 ΰΈΏ1,793
$62.2 $62.2
-10.92%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.4 ΰΈΏ854
$41.13 $41.13
-35.81%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.1 ΰΈΏ2,755
$103 $103
-17.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8 ΰΈΏ2,323
$150 $150
-52.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Lake Forest, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$434 ΰΈΏ14K
$1,433 $1,433
-69.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 ΰΈΏ7,610
$1,501 $1,501
-84.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$821 ΰΈΏ26.6K
$3,096 $3,096
-73.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ΰΈΏ16.1K
$2,805 $2,805
-82.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,180 ΰΈΏ70.6K
$8,100 $8,100
-73.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,543 ΰΈΏ49.9K
$7,128 $7,128
-78.35%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Lake Forest, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$703 ΰΈΏ22.8K
$6,899 $6,899
-89.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
6.49
-22.96%

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 Forest, CA: October 28, 2025

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