Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Lake Macquarie Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Lake Macquarie

🙂 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 40% cheaper than Lake Macquarie without rent, and 56.7% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 49.9% cheaper than Lake Macquarie without rent, and 58.9% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Lake Macquarie
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.02 ฿65.3
$12.91 A$19.78
-84.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.78 ฿608
$77.1 A$118
-75.64%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.67 ฿248
$9.66 A$14.79
-20.60%
Cappuccino
$1.98 ฿64.2
$3.34 A$5.12
-40.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ฿26.64
$2.38 A$3.65
-65.55%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ฿10.58
$2 A$3.07
-83.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.12 ฿68.6
$6.35 A$9.72
-66.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿121
$6.96 A$10.66
-46.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Lake Macquarie
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ฿53.2
$1.37 A$2.1
19.71%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ฿50.9
$1.44 A$2.2
9.03%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿38.62
$1.19 A$1.82
-
Eggs
$1.98 ฿64.1
$3.14 A$4.81
-36.94%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.99 ฿517
$7.51 A$11.5
112.92%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 ฿101
$6.07 A$9.3
-48.60%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.16 ฿361
$11.78 A$18.05
-5.26%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 ฿89.2
$3.11 A$4.76
-11.25%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿39.5
$2.7 A$4.13
-54.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ฿55.4
$3.16 A$4.84
-45.89%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 ฿50.2
$4.33 A$6.64
-64.20%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 ฿43.21
$1.95 A$2.98
-31.28%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 ฿39.23
$1.74 A$2.66
-30.46%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿23.2
$1.35 A$2.07
-46.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.05
$1.13 A$1.73
-53.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.72 ฿153
$27.52 A$42.16
-82.85%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.39 ฿595
$7.24 A$11.09
154.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ฿57.9
$2.62 A$4.02
-31.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ฿104
$2.15 A$3.3
49.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Lake Macquarie
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 ฿30.44
$2.07 A$3.17
-54.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.9 ฿612
$88.9 A$136
-78.73%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 ฿46.08
$1.87 A$2.86
-24.06%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿43.53
$1.55 A$2.37
-12.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 ฿254
$46.5 A$71.2
-83.12%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 ฿40.4
$1.19 A$1.82
5.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿684.9K
$24.9K A$38.2K
-15.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿706.8K
$20.2K A$30.9K
8.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Lake Macquarie
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.6 ฿2,285
$204 A$313
-65.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.72 ฿444
$10.26 A$15.72
33.72%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.56 ฿568
$42.08 A$64.5
-58.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Lake Macquarie
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.64 ฿1,347
$49.44 A$75.7
-15.78%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.9 ฿223
$15.88 A$24.33
-56.55%
Cinema Ticket
$5.8 ฿188
$9.2 A$14.1
-36.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Lake Macquarie
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 ฿9,963
$1,446 A$2,215
-78.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ฿475.8K
$9,951 A$15.2K
47.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Lake Macquarie
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4 ฿1,793
$73.4 A$112
-24.54%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.4 ฿854
$33.88 A$51.9
-22.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.1 ฿2,755
$76.6 A$117
11.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8 ฿2,323
$132 A$202
-45.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Lake Macquarie
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$434 ฿14K
$1,240 A$1,900
-64.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 ฿7,610
$976 A$1,495
-75.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$821 ฿26.6K
$2,007 A$3,074
-59.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ฿16.1K
$2,055 A$3,148
-75.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,180 ฿70.6K
$5,582 A$8,552
-60.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,543 ฿49.9K
$4,951 A$7,584
-68.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Lake Macquarie
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$703 ฿22.8K
$4,783 A$7,327
-85.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
4.35
14.94%

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 Macquarie: October 29, 2025

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