Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cleveland, MS and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $925 a month against $2,680 in Cleveland, MS, rent and utilities included – about $21,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Cleveland, MS
🇺🇸 United States
$2,680
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$925
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cleveland, MS and in Chiang Mai

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Cleveland, MS and in Chiang Mai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,680 per month in Cleveland, MS vs $925 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Cleveland, MS $2,680
  • Chiang Mai $925

A couple spends around $3,896 per month in Cleveland, MS vs $1,414 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Cleveland, MS $3,896
  • Chiang Mai $1,414

A family of three spends $5,113 per month in Cleveland, MS vs $1,903 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Cleveland, MS $5,113
  • Chiang Mai $1,903

Cleveland, MS costs about 190% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Cleveland, MS sits 98% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 32% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cleveland, MS
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.81 $16.81
$2.29 ฿76.5
634.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.5 $73.5
$19.64 ฿656
274.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.08 $11.08
$5.61 ฿188
97.50%
Cappuccino
$5.26 $5.26
$1.66 ฿55.6
216.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93 $2.93
$0.70 ฿23.40
318.57%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$0.31 ฿10.24
658.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.49 $5.49
$2.41 ฿80.4
127.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.69 $6.69
$3.71 ฿124
80.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cleveland, MS
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 $1.09
$1.95 ฿65.3
-44.10%
White Bread (500g)
$2.67 $2.67
$1.41 ฿47.03
89.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$1.31 ฿43.62
109.16%
Eggs
$3.39 $3.39
$2.18 ฿72.9
55.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.34 $10.34
$16.65 ฿556
-37.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.76 $11.76
$2.76 ฿92.2
326.09%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$23.00 $23.00
$9.11 ฿304
152.47%
Apples (1kg)
$5.13 $5.13
$2.39 ฿80.0
114.64%
Banana (1kg)
$1.41 $1.41
$1.03 ฿34.26
36.89%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.29 $4.29
$1.63 ฿54.4
163.19%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.75 $3.75
$1.50 ฿50.0
150.00%
Potato (1kg)
$2.86 $2.86
$1.29 ฿43.13
121.71%
Onion (1kg)
$2.46 $2.46
$1.11 ฿37.03
121.62%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.01 $2.01
$0.72 ฿24.08
179.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.93 $1.93
$0.53 ฿17.59
264.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.58 $9.58
$4.31 ฿144
122.27%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.54 $13.54
$17.95 ฿600
-24.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 $1.80
$1.58 ฿52.9
13.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 $1.68
$2.84 ฿95.0
-40.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Cleveland, MS
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.14 $2.14
$0.86 ฿28.86
148.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$53.3 ฿1,780
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.56 $2.56
$1.21 ฿40.29
111.57%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.52 $1.52
$0.57 ฿18.99
166.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$23.58 $23.58
$2.35 ฿78.6
903.40%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.92 $0.92
$1.44 ฿47.96
-36.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K $27.7K
$20.7K ฿692.8K
33.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K $26.7K
$26.8K ฿895.7K
-0.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cleveland, MS
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$222 $222
$62.3 ฿2,083
255.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$60.6 $60.6
$12.11 ฿405
400.58%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.4 $68.4
$19.94 ฿666
242.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cleveland, MS
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.22 $46.22
$37.07 ฿1,239
24.68%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.78 ฿126
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.08 $13.08
$6.50 ฿217
101.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cleveland, MS
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,032 $1,032
$793 ฿26.5K
30.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$19.3K $19.3K
$14.8K ฿494.9K
30.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cleveland, MS
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.4 $50.4
$53.7 ฿1,796
-6.23%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.07 $38.07
$24.62 ฿823
54.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.8 $83.8
$90.9 ฿3,036
-7.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$152 $152
$71.1 ฿2,378
113.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cleveland, MS
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,510 $1,510
$455 ฿15.2K
231.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,424 $1,424
$298 ฿9,954
378.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,218 $2,218
$908 ฿30.4K
144.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,364 $2,364
$554 ฿18.5K
326.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,571 $2,571
$1,931 ฿64.5K
33.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,707 $2,707
$1,445 ฿48.3K
87.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cleveland, MS
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$591 ฿19.7K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.75
5.57
21.18%

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

Last update for Cleveland, MS: October 20, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Cleveland, MS
$1.4K
Chiang Mai
$298 79.1% $1.1K
Groceries & Markets
Cleveland, MS
$375
Chiang Mai
$235 37.2% $140
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cleveland, MS
$351
Chiang Mai
$94 73.1% $256
Eating Out
Cleveland, MS
$293
Chiang Mai
$79 73.2% $214
Clothing & Footwear
Cleveland, MS
$146
Chiang Mai
$108 25.9% $38
Sport & Entertainment
Cleveland, MS
$72
Chiang Mai
$50 30.8% $22
Getting Around
Cleveland, MS
$19 *
Chiang Mai
$61 225% $42

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,510 in Cleveland, MS versus $455 in Chiang Mai. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $74.0 in Cleveland, MS versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $375 vs $235 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Cleveland, MS
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
03:50 3:50 AM
15:50 3:50 PM
12 h ahead of Cleveland, MS
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
367,991
127,240
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Cleveland, MS Chiang Mai 14,080 km ≈ 18 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Cleveland, MS
  • Chiang Mai

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
Cleveland, MS vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Cleveland, MS or Chiang Mai?
Cleveland, MS costs about 190% 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 Cleveland, MS and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,019 per month in Cleveland, MS and $1,388 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Cleveland, MS or Chiang Mai?
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.
How do dining costs compare in Cleveland, MS and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $74.0 in Cleveland, MS and $20.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Cleveland, MS or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 59% more in Cleveland, MS, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Cleveland, MS or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $925, than in Cleveland, MS at $2,680. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cleveland, MS it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Cleveland, MS or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $925 versus $2,680 in Cleveland, MS. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Cleveland, MS compared to Chiang Mai?
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.
Should I move to Cleveland, MS or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Cleveland, MS makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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