Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Lewis Center, OH

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $906 a month against $2,458 in Lewis Center, OH, rent and utilities included – about $18,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$906
/mo nomad
Lewis Center, OH
🇺🇸 United States
$2,458
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Lewis Center, OH

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Lewis Center, OH actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $906 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,458 in Lewis Center, OH, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $906
  • Lewis Center, OH $2,458

A couple spends around $1,385 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,553 in Lewis Center, OH, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,385
  • Lewis Center, OH $3,553

A family of three spends $1,864 per month in Chiang Mai vs $4,648 in Lewis Center, OH, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,864
  • Lewis Center, OH $4,648

Chiang Mai is about 63% cheaper than Lewis Center, OH, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Chiang Mai sits 32% below the global median, while Lewis Center, OH is 83% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Lewis Center, OH
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.13 ฿71.4
$19.70 $19.70
-89.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.40 ฿649
$66.7 $66.7
-70.92%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.47 ฿183
$10.03 $10.03
-45.46%
Cappuccino
$1.68 ฿56.4
$5.48 $5.48
-69.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66 ฿22.10
$2.18 $2.18
-69.72%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 ฿11.52
$1.54 $1.54
-77.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.42 ฿81.0
$4.87 $4.87
-50.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿125
$5.14 $5.14
-27.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Lewis Center, OH
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.06 ฿68.9
$0.86 $0.86
139.53%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 ฿48.78
$3.11 $3.11
-53.05%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.35 ฿45.09
$4.10 $4.10
-67.07%
Eggs
$2.27 ฿76.0
$3.26 $3.26
-30.37%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.31 ฿546
$11.23 $11.23
45.24%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.70 ฿90.3
$9.58 $9.58
-71.82%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.20 ฿308
$15.82 $15.82
-41.85%
Apples (1kg)
$2.39 ฿80.1
$3.34 $3.34
-28.44%
Banana (1kg)
$1.04 ฿34.66
$1.45 $1.45
-28.28%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 ฿53.7
$4.33 $4.33
-63.05%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.44 ฿48.37
$3.72 $3.72
-61.29%
Potato (1kg)
$1.30 ฿43.59
$2.66 $2.66
-51.13%
Onion (1kg)
$1.11 ฿37.29
$2.04 $2.04
-45.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.70 ฿23.55
$2.27 $2.27
-69.16%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.99
$2.20 $2.20
-76.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.13 ฿138
$9.83 $9.83
-57.99%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.78 ฿595
$13.52 $13.52
31.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 ฿54.7
$1.95 $1.95
-16.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 ฿96.0
$3.03 $3.03
-5.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Lewis Center, OH
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 ฿28.76
$1.97 $1.97
-56.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.2 ฿1,780
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.22 ฿40.81
$2.51 $2.51
-51.39%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.56 ฿18.81
$1.25 $1.25
-55.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.31 ฿77.5
$27.20 $27.20
-91.51%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.50 ฿50.2
$1.06 $1.06
41.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.9K ฿698.3K
$36.2K $36.2K
-42.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿895.0K
$25.6K $25.6K
4.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Lewis Center, OH
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$61.3 ฿2,051
$178 $178
-65.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.50 ฿419
$60.0 $60.0
-79.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.36 ฿682
$64.1 $64.1
-68.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Lewis Center, OH
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.94 ฿1,270
$38.77 $38.77
-2.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.77 ฿126
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.60 ฿221
$12.18 $12.18
-45.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Lewis Center, OH
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$774 ฿25.9K
$1,620 $1,620
-52.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.4K ฿483.2K
$14.3K $14.3K
0.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Lewis Center, OH
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.8 ฿1,835
$44.12 $44.12
24.21%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.26 ฿846
$40.38 $40.38
-37.44%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.6 ฿3,032
$73.1 $73.1
23.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.3 ฿2,453
$79.2 $79.2
-7.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Lewis Center, OH
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$459 ฿15.4K
$1,814 $1,814
-74.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$294 ฿9,835
$1,411 $1,411
-79.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$919 ฿30.8K
$2,695 $2,695
-65.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$552 ฿18.5K
$2,247 $2,247
-75.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,917 ฿64.2K
$2,661 $2,661
-27.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,445 ฿48.4K
$2,157 $2,157
-33.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Lewis Center, OH
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$592 ฿19.8K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
6.51
-14.44%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 5, 2026

Last update for Lewis Center, OH: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$294
Lewis Center, OH
$1.4K 380% $1.1K
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$236
Lewis Center, OH
$350 48.3% $114
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$110
Lewis Center, OH
$107 2.9% $3.2
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$94
Lewis Center, OH
$302 221% $208
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$77
Lewis Center, OH
$303 292% $226
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$61
Lewis Center, OH
$17 * 72.5% $44
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$51
Lewis Center, OH
$63 23.5% $12

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $459 in Chiang Mai versus $1,814 in Lewis Center, OH. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $67.0 in Lewis Center, OH. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $236 vs $350 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇺🇸 Lewis Center, OH
🕒 Local time
16:45 4:45 PM
05:45 5:45 AM
11 h behind Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
11,261
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 11, 2026: 1 USD = 33.48 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.52 THB (100 THB = 2.67 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 11, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Mai Lewis Center, OH 13,450 km ≈ 17 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • Lewis Center, OH

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Chiang Mai vs Lewis Center, OH: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Lewis Center, OH?
Lewis Center, OH costs about 171% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai and in Lewis Center, OH?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,359 per month in Chiang Mai and $3,687 in Lewis Center, OH. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Lewis Center, OH?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Lewis Center, OH?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $67.0 in Lewis Center, OH. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or in Lewis Center, OH?
Groceries cost about 48% more in Lewis Center, OH, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Chiang Mai or in Lewis Center, OH?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $906, than in Lewis Center, OH at $2,458. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lewis Center, OH it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Lewis Center, OH?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $906 versus $2,458 in Lewis Center, OH. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Lewis Center, OH?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or to Lewis Center, OH?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lewis Center, OH makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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