Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Palm Desert, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Palm Desert, CA

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 52.3% cheaper than Palm Desert, CA without rent, and 72.8% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 51.1% cheaper than Palm Desert, CA without rent, and 68% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Palm Desert, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.02 ΰΈΏ65.3
$17.92 $17.92
-88.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.78 ΰΈΏ608
$81.3 $81.3
-76.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.67 ΰΈΏ248
$11.7 $11.7
-34.44%
Cappuccino
$1.98 ΰΈΏ64.2
$5.1 $5.1
-61.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ΰΈΏ26.64
$3.65 $3.65
-77.53%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ΰΈΏ10.58
$2.2 $2.2
-85.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.12 ΰΈΏ68.6
$7.13 $7.13
-70.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ΰΈΏ121
$8.04 $8.04
-53.61%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Palm Desert, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ΰΈΏ53.2
$1.17 $1.17
40.17%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ΰΈΏ50.9
$4.13 $4.13
-61.99%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ΰΈΏ38.62
$4.61 $4.61
-74.19%
Eggs
$1.98 ΰΈΏ64.1
$3.9 $3.9
-49.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.99 ΰΈΏ517
$11.15 $11.15
43.41%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 ΰΈΏ101
$15.92 $15.92
-80.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.16 ΰΈΏ361
$15.21 $15.21
-26.63%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 ΰΈΏ89.2
$4.49 $4.49
-38.53%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ΰΈΏ39.5
$1.55 $1.55
-21.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ΰΈΏ55.4
$4.87 $4.87
-64.89%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 ΰΈΏ50.2
$5.68 $5.68
-72.71%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 ΰΈΏ43.21
$3.23 $3.23
-58.51%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 ΰΈΏ39.23
$2.97 $2.97
-59.26%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ΰΈΏ23.2
$2.05 $2.05
-64.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ΰΈΏ17.05
$2.19 $2.19
-75.80%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.72 ΰΈΏ153
$11.21 $11.21
-57.89%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.39 ΰΈΏ595
$13.31 $13.31
38.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ΰΈΏ57.9
$1.94 $1.94
-7.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ΰΈΏ104
$3.52 $3.52
-8.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Palm Desert, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 ΰΈΏ30.44
$1.98 $1.98
-52.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.9 ΰΈΏ612
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 ΰΈΏ46.08
$6.5 $6.5
-78.15%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ΰΈΏ43.53
$2.07 $2.07
-34.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 ΰΈΏ254
$28.83 $28.83
-72.77%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 ΰΈΏ40.4
$1.09 $1.09
14.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ΰΈΏ684.9K
$25.3K $25.3K
-16.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ΰΈΏ706.8K
$28.4K $28.4K
-23.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Palm Desert, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.6 ΰΈΏ2,285
$158 $158
-55.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.72 ΰΈΏ444
$54.1 $54.1
-74.65%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.56 ΰΈΏ568
$58 $58
-69.71%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Palm Desert, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.64 ΰΈΏ1,347
$42.99 $42.99
-3.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.9 ΰΈΏ223
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.8 ΰΈΏ188
$13.05 $13.05
-55.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Palm Desert, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 ΰΈΏ9,963
$1,514 $1,514
-79.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ΰΈΏ475.8K
$23.7K $23.7K
-37.95%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Palm Desert, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4 ΰΈΏ1,793
$46.95 $46.95
18.00%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.4 ΰΈΏ854
$29.73 $29.73
-11.20%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.1 ΰΈΏ2,755
$60.6 $60.6
40.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8 ΰΈΏ2,323
$60.8 $60.8
17.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Palm Desert, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$434 ΰΈΏ14K
$2,512 $2,512
-82.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 ΰΈΏ7,610
$2,028 $2,028
-88.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$821 ΰΈΏ26.6K
$3,145 $3,145
-73.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ΰΈΏ16.1K
$2,960 $2,960
-83.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,180 ΰΈΏ70.6K
$3,175 $3,175
-31.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,543 ΰΈΏ49.9K
$2,404 $2,404
-35.81%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Palm Desert, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$703 ΰΈΏ22.8K
$5,157 $5,157
-86.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
6.64
-24.70%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

Last update for Palm Desert, CA: October 27, 2025

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