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

🙂 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 45.9% cheaper than Monterey, CA without rent, and 73.5% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 57% cheaper than Monterey, CA without rent, and 71.8% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Monterey, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.02 ฿65.3
$16.22 $16.22
-87.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.78 ฿608
$64.9 $64.9
-71.05%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.67 ฿248
$9.45 $9.45
-18.84%
Cappuccino
$1.98 ฿64.2
$4.48 $4.48
-55.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ฿26.64
$3.16 $3.16
-74.05%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ฿10.58
$1.63 $1.63
-79.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.12 ฿68.6
$5.86 $5.86
-63.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿121
$4.44 $4.44
-15.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Monterey, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ฿53.2
$1.34 $1.34
22.39%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ฿50.9
$3.41 $3.41
-53.96%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿38.62
$4.37 $4.37
-72.77%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿64.1
$4 $4
-50.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.99 ฿517
$9.38 $9.38
70.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 ฿101
$17.66 $17.66
-82.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.16 ฿361
$14.04 $14.04
-20.51%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 ฿89.2
$3.85 $3.85
-28.31%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿39.5
$1.15 $1.15
6.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ฿55.4
$2.46 $2.46
-30.49%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 ฿50.2
$2.23 $2.23
-30.49%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 ฿43.21
$1.92 $1.92
-30.21%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 ฿39.23
$2.23 $2.23
-45.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿23.2
$1.83 $1.83
-60.66%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.05
$1.94 $1.94
-72.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.72 ฿153
$12.16 $12.16
-61.18%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.39 ฿595
$17.28 $17.28
6.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ฿57.9
$2.2 $2.2
-18.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ฿104
$2.44 $2.44
31.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Monterey, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 ฿30.44
$2.04 $2.04
-53.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.9 ฿612
$53 $53
-64.31%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 ฿46.08
$1.58 $1.58
-10.13%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿43.53
$0.89 $0.89
51.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 ฿254
$28.75 $28.75
-72.70%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 ฿40.4
$1.22 $1.22
2.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿684.9K
$24.2K $24.2K
-12.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿706.8K
$24.2K $24.2K
-9.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Monterey, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.6 ฿2,285
$188 $188
-62.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.72 ฿444
$51.7 $51.7
-73.48%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.56 ฿568
$61.8 $61.8
-71.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Monterey, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.64 ฿1,347
$43.27 $43.27
-3.77%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.9 ฿223
$10.52 $10.52
-34.41%
Cinema Ticket
$5.8 ฿188
$12.3 $12.3
-52.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Monterey, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 ฿9,963
$570 $570
-46.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ฿475.8K
$12.5K $12.5K
17.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Monterey, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4 ฿1,793
$68.4 $68.4
-19.04%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.4 ฿854
$119 $119
-77.75%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.1 ฿2,755
$98.5 $98.5
-13.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8 ฿2,323
$202 $202
-64.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Monterey, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$434 ฿14K
$2,323 $2,323
-81.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 ฿7,610
$2,004 $2,004
-88.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$821 ฿26.6K
$3,623 $3,623
-77.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ฿16.1K
$3,664 $3,664
-86.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,180 ฿70.6K
$7,809 $7,809
-72.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,543 ฿49.9K
$5,920 $5,920
-73.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Monterey, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$703 ฿22.8K
$4,380 $4,380
-83.94%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
6.4
-21.88%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

Last update for Monterey, CA: October 29, 2025

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