Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Somerset, KY Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Somerset, KY

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $847 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,356 in Somerset, KY, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,332 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,363 in Somerset, KY, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,816 per month in Chiang Mai vs $4,370 in Somerset, KY, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 64% cheaper than Somerset, KY, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 37% below the global median, while Somerset, KY is 76% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.03 ฿68.5

$15.18 $15.18

-86.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿631

$60.2 $60.2

-68.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.84 ฿265

$7.83 $7.83

0.13%

Cappuccino

$1.93 ฿65.0

$3.90 $3.90

-50.51%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 ฿28.05

$2.24 $2.24

-62.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.82

$2.10 $2.10

-83.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.22 ฿74.9

$3.56 $3.56

-37.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿128

$4.06 $4.06

-6.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$0.82 $0.82

101.22%

White Bread (500g)

$1.55 ฿52.4

$2.20 $2.20

-29.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿39.86

$3.95 $3.95

-70.13%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿68.0

$3.34 $3.34

-39.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.16 ฿545

$10.24 $10.24

57.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿102

$8.86 $8.86

-65.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.84 ฿366

$15.40 $15.40

-29.61%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿90.4

$4.77 $4.77

-43.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿41.21

$1.20 $1.20

1.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿54.9

$3.87 $3.87

-57.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿51.6

$5.05 $5.05

-69.70%

Potato (1kg)

$1.34 ฿45.18

$2.06 $2.06

-34.95%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 ฿40.93

$3.04 $3.04

-60.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿23.67

$1.76 $1.76

-60.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.73

$1.41 $1.41

-62.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿158

$6.99 $6.99

-32.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.71 ฿598

$12.04 $12.04

47.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 ฿62.3

$1.98 $1.98

-6.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.21 ฿108

$1.46 $1.46

119.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿30.07

$1.94 $1.94

-54.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.76 ฿633

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.48

$3.65 $3.65

-61.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿43.59

$1.51 $1.51

-14.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.79 ฿263

$24.94 $24.94

-68.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 ฿43.67

$0.86 $0.86

50.00%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.8K ฿734.7K

$25.3K $25.3K

-13.87%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$21.7K ฿732.1K

$25.2K $25.2K

-14.08%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$70.0 ฿2,362

$119 $119

-41.36%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$14.19 ฿479

$57.5 $57.5

-75.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.42 ฿588

$55.9 $55.9

-68.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.64 ฿1,405

$42.96 $42.96

-3.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.89 ฿233

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿195

$8.35 $8.35

-30.78%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$300 ฿10.1K

$652 $652

-54.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.5K ฿490.1K

$17.6K $17.6K

-17.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.4 ฿1,869

$27.87 $27.87

98.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.31 ฿888

$30.04 $30.04

-12.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,863

$62.6 $62.6

35.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,379

$102 $102

-30.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$425 ฿14.4K

$601 $601

-29.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$235 ฿7,933

$1,345 $1,345

-82.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$802 ฿27.1K

$1,009 $1,009

-20.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$516 ฿17.4K

$2,225 $2,225

-76.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,926 ฿65.0K

$2,759 $2,759

-30.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿49.0K

$2,354 $2,354

-38.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$586 ฿19.8K

$4,675 $4,675

-87.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 20, 2026

Last update for Somerset, KY: July 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $425 in Chiang Mai versus $601 in Somerset, KY. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 697% higher in Somerset, KY, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $60.0 in Somerset, KY. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $326 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Somerset, KY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Somerset, KY costs about 178% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,271 per month in Chiang Mai and $3,534 in Somerset, KY. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $60.0 in Somerset, KY. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 34% more in Somerset, KY, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $847, than in Somerset, KY at $2,356. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Somerset, KY it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $847 versus $2,356 in Somerset, KY. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Somerset, KY makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.