Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Marietta, GA

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $936 a month against $2,721 in Marietta, GA, rent and utilities included – about $21,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Chiang Mai, Thailand
Marietta, GA, United States
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$936
/mo nomad
Marietta, GA
🇺🇸 United States
$2,721
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Marietta, GA

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 Marietta, GA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,721 in Marietta, GA, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $936
  • Marietta, GA $2,721

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $4,002 in Marietta, GA, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,457
  • Marietta, GA $4,002

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $5,282 in Marietta, GA, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,979
  • Marietta, GA $5,282

Chiang Mai is about 66% cheaper than Marietta, GA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Chiang Mai sits 31% below the global median, while Marietta, GA is 100% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Marietta, GA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.24 ฿75.6
$20.30 $20.30
-88.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.00 ฿641
$102 $102
-81.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.55 ฿187
$11.97 $11.97
-53.63%
Cappuccino
$1.67 ฿56.5
$5.43 $5.43
-69.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 ฿21.55
$2.83 $2.83
-77.39%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ฿10.31
$2.20 $2.20
-85.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.36 ฿79.6
$6.45 $6.45
-63.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 ฿124
$7.98 $7.98
-54.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Marietta, GA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.95 ฿65.8
$0.91 $0.91
114.29%
White Bread (500g)
$1.44 ฿48.48
$3.56 $3.56
-59.55%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 ฿45.04
$3.87 $3.87
-65.63%
Eggs
$2.28 ฿77.1
$4.19 $4.19
-45.58%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.45 ฿555
$13.88 $13.88
18.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.78 ฿93.9
$14.57 $14.57
-80.92%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.31 ฿314
$19.09 $19.09
-51.23%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 ฿79.4
$5.83 $5.83
-59.69%
Banana (1kg)
$0.97 ฿32.80
$1.65 $1.65
-41.21%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 ฿53.9
$4.41 $4.41
-63.72%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.6
$5.37 $5.37
-72.07%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 ฿43.12
$2.84 $2.84
-54.93%
Onion (1kg)
$1.10 ฿37.19
$2.60 $2.60
-57.69%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 ฿23.82
$2.23 $2.23
-68.16%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.37
$2.71 $2.71
-81.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.14 ฿140
$9.03 $9.03
-54.15%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.52 ฿591
$13.78 $13.78
27.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61 ฿54.5
$2.01 $2.01
-19.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ฿94.0
$3.53 $3.53
-21.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Marietta, GA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.87 ฿29.31
$2.54 $2.54
-65.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$54.1 ฿1,826
$80.0 $80.0
-32.37%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.16 ฿39.06
$3.58 $3.58
-67.60%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 ฿17.80
$1.47 $1.47
-63.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.42 ฿81.8
$23.55 $23.55
-89.72%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.90
$0.91 $0.91
59.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1K ฿710.7K
$36.2K $36.2K
-41.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K ฿909.3K
$25.9K $25.9K
3.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Marietta, GA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.2 ฿2,098
$220 $220
-71.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.17 ฿411
$82.6 $82.6
-85.26%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.12 ฿679
$74.9 $74.9
-73.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Marietta, GA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.31 ฿1,259
$82.6 $82.6
-54.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.77 ฿127
$23.38 $23.38
-83.88%
Cinema Ticket
$6.49 ฿219
$11.98 $11.98
-45.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Marietta, GA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$736 ฿24.8K
$1,103 $1,103
-33.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿498.3K
$22.7K $22.7K
-34.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Marietta, GA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.4 ฿1,801
$53.2 $53.2
0.28%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.64 ฿831
$45.45 $45.45
-45.79%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.5 ฿3,087
$97.3 $97.3
-5.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.9 ฿2,428
$108 $108
-33.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Marietta, GA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$482 ฿16.3K
$1,358 $1,358
-64.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 ฿10.4K
$1,235 $1,235
-75.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,006 ฿33.9K
$2,386 $2,386
-57.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$633 ฿21.4K
$1,901 $1,901
-66.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,363 ฿79.8K
$2,747 $2,747
-13.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,589 ฿53.6K
$1,977 $1,977
-19.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Marietta, GA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$590 ฿19.9K
$3,986 $3,986
-85.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
6.63
-15.99%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Last update for Marietta, GA: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$309
Marietta, GA
$1.2K 300% $927
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$234
Marietta, GA
$432 84.4% $198
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$109
Marietta, GA
$137 26% $28
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$94
Marietta, GA
$377 299% $283
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$78
Marietta, GA
$332 328% $254
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$61
Marietta, GA
$101 64.7% $40
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$50
Marietta, GA
$107 112% $56

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Chiang Mai versus $1,358 in Marietta, GA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Marietta, GA are about 6.8 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $102 in Marietta, GA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $234 vs $432 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇺🇸 Marietta, GA
🕒 Local time
11:12 11:12 AM
23:12 11:12 PM
12 h behind Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
61,048
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 33.75 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.68 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.896 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Mai Marietta, GA 14,140 km ≈ 18 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • Marietta, GA

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 Marietta, GA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Marietta, GA?
Marietta, GA costs about 191% 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 Marietta, GA?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $4,082 in Marietta, GA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Marietta, GA?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $482 there versus $1,358 in Marietta, GA.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Marietta, GA?
Kindergarten costs $736 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,103 in Marietta, GA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or in Marietta, GA?
Groceries cost about 84% more in Marietta, GA, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $800/month in Chiang Mai or in Marietta, GA?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $936 in Chiang Mai and $2,721 in Marietta, GA. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Chiang Mai – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or to Marietta, GA?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Marietta, GA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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