Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Waterloo, IA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Waterloo, IA

🙂 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 42.8% cheaper than Waterloo, IA without rent, and 53.1% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 48.2% cheaper than Waterloo, IA without rent, and 42.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Waterloo, IA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.02 ฿65.3
$18.28 $18.28
-88.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.78 ฿608
$66.4 $66.4
-71.70%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.67 ฿248
$9.89 $9.89
-22.45%
Cappuccino
$1.98 ฿64.2
$5.24 $5.24
-62.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ฿26.64
$2.78 $2.78
-70.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ฿10.58
$2.39 $2.39
-86.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.12 ฿68.6
$6.13 $6.13
-65.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿121
$6.83 $6.83
-45.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Waterloo, IA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ฿53.2
$1.01 $1.01
62.38%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ฿50.9
$1.94 $1.94
-19.07%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿38.62
$1.72 $1.72
-30.81%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿64.1
$2.86 $2.86
-30.77%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.99 ฿517
$9.28 $9.28
72.31%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 ฿101
$6.7 $6.7
-53.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.16 ฿361
$12.74 $12.74
-12.40%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 ฿89.2
$3.85 $3.85
-28.31%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿39.5
$1.2 $1.2
1.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ฿55.4
$3.32 $3.32
-48.49%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 ฿50.2
$4.46 $4.46
-65.25%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 ฿43.21
$1.12 $1.12
19.64%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 ฿39.23
$2.12 $2.12
-42.92%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿23.2
$1.85 $1.85
-61.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.05
$1.53 $1.53
-65.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.72 ฿153
$7.92 $7.92
-40.40%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.39 ฿595
$12.01 $12.01
53.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ฿57.9
$1.69 $1.69
5.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ฿104
$1.79 $1.79
79.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Waterloo, IA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 ฿30.44
$1.97 $1.97
-52.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.9 ฿612
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 ฿46.08
$4.89 $4.89
-70.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿43.53
$1.43 $1.43
-5.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 ฿254
$29.73 $29.73
-73.60%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 ฿40.4
$0.77 $0.77
62.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿684.9K
$35.3K $35.3K
-39.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿706.8K
$25.9K $25.9K
-15.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Waterloo, IA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.6 ฿2,285
$197 $197
-64.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.72 ฿444
$48.84 $48.84
-71.91%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.56 ฿568
$59.4 $59.4
-70.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Waterloo, IA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.64 ฿1,347
$42.83 $42.83
-2.78%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.9 ฿223
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.8 ฿188
$13.8 $13.8
-57.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Waterloo, IA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 ฿9,963
$1,454 $1,454
-78.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ฿475.8K
$30.5K $30.5K
-51.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Waterloo, IA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4 ฿1,793
$38.76 $38.76
42.93%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.4 ฿854
$42.15 $42.15
-37.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.1 ฿2,755
$58.6 $58.6
45.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8 ฿2,323
$129 $129
-44.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Waterloo, IA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$434 ฿14K
$842 $842
-48.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 ฿7,610
$747 $747
-68.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$821 ฿26.6K
$1,974 $1,974
-58.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ฿16.1K
$863 $863
-42.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,180 ฿70.6K
$1,457 $1,457
49.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,543 ฿49.9K
$1,429 $1,429
7.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Waterloo, IA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$703 ฿22.8K
$3,529 $3,529
-80.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
6.43
-22.24%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

Last update for Waterloo, IA: October 28, 2025

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