Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Sequim, WA

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $936 a month against $3,178 in Sequim, WA, rent and utilities included – about $26,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Chiang Mai, Thailand
Sequim, WA, United States
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$936
/mo nomad
Sequim, WA
🇺🇸 United States
$3,178
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Sequim, WA

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 Sequim, WA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,178 in Sequim, WA, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $936
  • Sequim, WA $3,178

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $4,615 in Sequim, WA, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,457
  • Sequim, WA $4,615

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $6,052 in Sequim, WA, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,979
  • Sequim, WA $6,052

Chiang Mai is about 71% cheaper than Sequim, WA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Chiang Mai sits 31% below the global median, while Sequim, WA is 134% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Sequim, WA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.24 ฿75.7
$24.86 $24.86
-90.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.00 ฿642
$73.7 $73.7
-74.22%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.55 ฿188
$12.69 $12.69
-56.26%
Cappuccino
$1.67 ฿56.6
$5.18 $5.18
-67.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 ฿21.56
$2.14 $2.14
-70.09%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ฿10.32
$1.62 $1.62
-80.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.36 ฿79.6
$6.07 $6.07
-61.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 ฿124
$7.10 $7.10
-48.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Sequim, WA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.95 ฿65.8
$1.07 $1.07
82.24%
White Bread (500g)
$1.44 ฿48.51
$3.51 $3.51
-58.97%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 ฿45.07
$4.04 $4.04
-67.08%
Eggs
$2.28 ฿77.1
$3.95 $3.95
-42.28%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.45 ฿556
$13.98 $13.98
17.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.78 ฿94.0
$13.45 $13.45
-79.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.31 ฿314
$26.28 $26.28
-64.57%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 ฿79.5
$5.12 $5.12
-54.10%
Banana (1kg)
$0.97 ฿32.82
$1.90 $1.90
-48.95%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 ฿53.9
$4.04 $4.04
-60.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.7
$4.81 $4.81
-68.81%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 ฿43.15
$1.85 $1.85
-30.81%
Onion (1kg)
$1.10 ฿37.22
$2.42 $2.42
-54.55%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 ฿23.84
$2.80 $2.80
-74.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.38
$2.40 $2.40
-79.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.14 ฿140
$12.13 $12.13
-65.87%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.52 ฿592
$15.30 $15.30
14.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61 ฿54.5
$1.98 $1.98
-18.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ฿94.0
$2.76 $2.76
0.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Sequim, WA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.87 ฿29.33
$1.46 $1.46
-40.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$54.1 ฿1,827
$40.62 $40.62
33.16%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.16 ฿39.08
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 ฿17.82
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.42 ฿81.8
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.93
$1.31 $1.31
10.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1K ฿711.2K
$28.3K $28.3K
-25.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K ฿909.8K
$27.0K $27.0K
-0.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Sequim, WA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.2 ฿2,100
$291 $291
-78.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.17 ฿411
$49.67 $49.67
-75.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.12 ฿680
$85.2 $85.2
-76.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Sequim, WA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.31 ฿1,260
$70.1 $70.1
-46.80%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.77 ฿127
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.49 ฿219
$16.92 $16.92
-61.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Sequim, WA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$736 ฿24.9K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿498.6K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Sequim, WA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.4 ฿1,802
$39.80 $39.80
34.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.64 ฿832
$49.22 $49.22
-49.94%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.5 ฿3,089
$101 $101
-9.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.9 ฿2,429
$121 $121
-40.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Sequim, WA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$482 ฿16.3K
$1,933 $1,933
-75.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 ฿10.4K
$1,663 $1,663
-81.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,006 ฿34.0K
$3,159 $3,159
-68.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$633 ฿21.4K
$2,842 $2,842
-77.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,363 ฿79.8K
$3,779 $3,779
-37.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,589 ฿53.7K
$3,284 $3,284
-51.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Sequim, WA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$590 ฿19.9K
$2,960 $2,960
-80.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
6.81
-18.21%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Last update for Sequim, WA: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$309
Sequim, WA
$1.7K 439% $1.4K
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$234
Sequim, WA
$439 87.5% $205
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$109
Sequim, WA
$140 29.1% $32
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$94
Sequim, WA
$426 351% $332
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$78
Sequim, WA
$359 362% $281
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$61
Sequim, WA
$46 * 24.3% $15
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$50
Sequim, WA
$104 107% $54

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Chiang Mai versus $1,933 in Sequim, WA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Sequim, WA are about 5 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $74 in Sequim, WA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $234 vs $439 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇺🇸 Sequim, WA
🕒 Local time
05:16 5:16 AM
15:16 3:16 PM
14 h behind Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
8,000
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 33.77 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.59 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.898 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Mai Sequim, WA 11,480 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • Sequim, WA

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 Sequim, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Sequim, WA?
Sequim, WA costs about 240% 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 Sequim, WA?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $4,768 in Sequim, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Sequim, WA?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $482 there versus $1,933 in Sequim, WA.
How expensive is transport in Chiang Mai compared to Sequim, WA?
Public transport costs about 25% less in Sequim, WA. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or in Sequim, WA?
Groceries cost about 87% more in Sequim, WA, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $800/month in Chiang Mai or in Sequim, WA?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $936 in Chiang Mai and $3,178 in Sequim, WA. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Chiang Mai or Sequim, WA?
It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $936 in Chiang Mai to $3,178 in Sequim, WA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Sequim, WA?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or to Sequim, WA?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sequim, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?