Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Merced, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Merced, CA

🙂 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 51.5% cheaper than Merced, CA without rent, and 64.6% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 51% cheaper than Merced, CA without rent, and 61.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Merced, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.94 ฿62.8
$20.09 $20.09
-90.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.36 ฿594
$40.35 $40.35
-54.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.78 ฿252
$11.62 $11.62
-33.05%
Cappuccino
$1.96 ฿63.3
$5.93 $5.93
-66.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 ฿27.01
$3.07 $3.07
-72.96%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.44
$1.94 $1.94
-81.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.1 ฿67.9
$9.22 $9.22
-77.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75 ฿121
$9.95 $9.95
-62.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Merced, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.69 ฿54.8
$1.18 $1.18
43.22%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 ฿52.6
$2.84 $2.84
-42.61%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.2 ฿38.83
$3.17 $3.17
-62.15%
Eggs
$1.99 ฿64.5
$4.89 $4.89
-59.30%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.97 ฿517
$11.16 $11.16
43.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.14 ฿102
$15.57 $15.57
-79.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.94 ฿354
$17.37 $17.37
-37.02%
Apples (1kg)
$2.68 ฿86.6
$5.95 $5.95
-54.96%
Banana (1kg)
$1.17 ฿37.97
$2.5 $2.5
-53.20%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.63 ฿52.6
$1.49 $1.49
9.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.54 ฿49.78
$4.37 $4.37
-64.76%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 ฿43.23
$2.11 $2.11
-36.49%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ฿37.78
$3.3 $3.3
-64.55%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.67 ฿21.52
$0.97 $0.97
-30.93%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿18.09
$2.86 $2.86
-80.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.57 ฿148
$9.83 $9.83
-53.51%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.42 ฿596
$18.17 $18.17
1.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ฿57.9
$2.36 $2.36
-24.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27 ฿106
$3.35 $3.35
-2.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Merced, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.96 ฿31.19
$1.47 $1.47
-34.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.98 ฿614
$59 $59
-67.85%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.35 ฿43.78
$3.01 $3.01
-55.15%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.3 ฿42.14
$1.63 $1.63
-20.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.24 ฿267
$27.1 $27.1
-69.59%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 ฿39.97
$1.24 $1.24
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K ฿699.5K
$30.5K $30.5K
-29.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿706.1K
$26.4K $26.4K
-17.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Merced, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.2 ฿2,272
$280 $280
-74.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.18 ฿459
$35.62 $35.62
-60.19%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.88 ฿579
$68.1 $68.1
-73.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Merced, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.29 ฿1,369
$33.71 $33.71
25.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.73 ฿218
$13.79 $13.79
-51.20%
Cinema Ticket
$5.7 ฿185
$15.7 $15.7
-63.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Merced, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 ฿9,969
$1,959 $1,959
-84.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.1K ฿487.6K
$26.3K $26.3K
-42.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Merced, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.3 ฿1,822
$52.7 $52.7
6.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.3 ฿851
$44.79 $44.79
-41.28%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.7 ฿2,742
$87.6 $87.6
-3.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.2 ฿2,336
$139 $139
-48.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Merced, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$434 ฿14.1K
$1,593 $1,593
-72.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$243 ฿7,854
$1,087 $1,087
-77.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$807 ฿26.1K
$1,989 $1,989
-59.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$499 ฿16.2K
$1,920 $1,920
-74.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,195 ฿71K
$2,963 $2,963
-25.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,560 ฿50.5K
$2,873 $2,873
-45.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Merced, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$683 ฿22.1K
$3,483 $3,483
-80.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
6.36
-21.38%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: November 3, 2025

Last update for Merced, CA: November 5, 2025

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