Cost of Living Comparison Between Des Moines, IA and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Des Moines, IA and Chiang Mai

😐 Solo nomad: Des Moines, IA is 89.3% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 144.1% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Des Moines, IA is 100.8% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 130.6% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.08 $16.08

$2.03 ฿64.6

692.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.5 $79.5

$18.59 ฿593

327.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.19 $12.19

$7.48 ฿238

62.97%

Cappuccino

$4.80 $4.80

$2.00 ฿63.7

140.00%

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

$2.38 $2.38

$0.85 ฿27.01

180.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.86 $1.86

$0.35 ฿11.21

431.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.07 $5.07

$2.21 ฿70.5

129.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.90 $6.90

$3.76 ฿120

83.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.96 $0.96

$1.72 ฿54.8

-44.19%

White Bread (500g)

$2.52 $2.52

$1.63 ฿52.1

54.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.15 $2.15

$1.16 ฿36.93

85.34%

Eggs

$3.55 $3.55

$1.98 ฿63.1

79.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.78 $12.78

$15.93 ฿508

-19.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.38 $10.38

$3.17 ฿101

227.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.69 $12.69

$10.90 ฿348

16.42%

Apples (1kg)

$4.53 $4.53

$2.65 ฿84.3

70.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 $1.46

$1.22 ฿38.98

19.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.70 $3.70

$1.70 ฿54.1

117.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.61 $3.61

$1.59 ฿50.7

127.04%

Potato (1kg)

$1.67 $1.67

$1.32 ฿42.21

26.52%

Onion (1kg)

$3.03 $3.03

$1.17 ฿37.25

158.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.24 $2.24

$0.68 ฿21.61

229.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 $1.07

$0.56 ฿17.76

91.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.12 $7.12

$4.51 ฿144

57.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.31 $14.31

$19.07 ฿608

-24.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 $1.75

$1.77 ฿56.4

-1.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.01 $4.01

$3.18 ฿101

26.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.72 $1.72

$0.96 ฿30.70

79.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$58.4 $58.4

$18.90 ฿602

208.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.05 $2.05

$1.36 ฿43.29

50.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.35 ฿43.11

-9.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.84 $19.84

$8.03 ฿256

147.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 $0.82

$1.24 ฿39.62

-33.87%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$21.2K ฿674.7K

20.70%

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

$24.6K $24.6K

$21.8K ฿693.5K

13.03%

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

$147 $147

$71.2 ฿2,271

106.09%

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

$51.4 $51.4

$14.09 ฿449

264.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.4 $54.4

$17.47 ฿557

211.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.3 $67.3

$42.07 ฿1,341

60.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.61 $19.61

$6.88 ฿219

185.03%

Cinema Ticket

$15.02 $15.02

$5.94 ฿189

152.86%

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

$1,348 $1,348

$307 ฿9,799

338.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.8K $11.8K

$14.8K ฿471.6K

-20.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.5 $52.5

$55.7 ฿1,775

-5.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.52 $42.52

$26.79 ฿854

58.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.7 $71.7

$83.2 ฿2,653

-13.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 $124

$70.1 ฿2,235

76.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,207 $1,207

$427 ฿13.6K

182.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$902 $902

$237 ฿7,559

280.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,775 $1,775

$802 ฿25.6K

121.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,498 $1,498

$503 ฿16.0K

197.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,283 $2,283

$2,061 ฿65.7K

10.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,303 $2,303

$1,533 ฿48.9K

50.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,601 $3,601

$654 ฿20.8K

450.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

30.00%

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

Last update for Des Moines, IA: March 2, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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