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 106.7% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 141.9% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Des Moines, IA is 113.6% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 125.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Des Moines, IA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.83 $15.83
$2.02 ฿65.3
683.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.4 $79.4
$18.78 ฿608
322.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.17 $12.17
$7.67 ฿248
58.67%
Cappuccino
$4.78 $4.78
$1.98 ฿64.2
141.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32 $2.32
$0.82 ฿26.64
182.93%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.93 $1.93
$0.33 ฿10.58
484.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.86 $4.86
$2.12 ฿68.6
129.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.97 $6.97
$3.73 ฿121
86.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Des Moines, IA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.97 $0.97
$1.64 ฿53.2
-40.85%
White Bread (500g)
$2.57 $2.57
$1.57 ฿50.9
63.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.26 $2.26
$1.19 ฿38.62
89.92%
Eggs
$3.72 $3.72
$1.98 ฿64.1
87.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.89 $12.89
$15.99 ฿517
-19.39%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.58 $10.58
$3.12 ฿101
239.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.82 $12.82
$11.16 ฿361
14.87%
Apples (1kg)
$4.33 $4.33
$2.76 ฿89.2
56.88%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 $1.44
$1.22 ฿39.5
18.03%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.75 $3.75
$1.71 ฿55.4
119.30%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.61 $3.61
$1.55 ฿50.2
132.90%
Potato (1kg)
$1.66 $1.66
$1.34 ฿43.21
23.88%
Onion (1kg)
$2.97 $2.97
$1.21 ฿39.23
145.45%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.29 $2.29
$0.72 ฿23.2
218.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.53 ฿17.05
103.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.17 $7.17
$4.72 ฿153
51.91%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.95 $13.95
$18.39 ฿595
-24.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 $1.78
$1.79 ฿57.9
-0.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.11 $4.11
$3.21 ฿104
28.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Des Moines, IA
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.7 $1.7
$0.94 ฿30.44
80.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$57 $57
$18.9 ฿612
201.59%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.94 $1.94
$1.42 ฿46.08
36.62%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.23 $1.23
$1.35 ฿43.53
-8.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$19.71 $19.71
$7.85 ฿254
151.08%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 $0.81
$1.25 ฿40.4
-35.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.7K $25.7K
$21.2K ฿684.9K
21.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.9K $24.9K
$21.8K ฿706.8K
13.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Des Moines, IA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$145 $145
$70.6 ฿2,285
105.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.1 $52.1
$13.72 ฿444
279.37%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.2 $54.2
$17.56 ฿568
208.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Des Moines, IA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$66.1 $66.1
$41.64 ฿1,347
58.81%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.16 $20.16
$6.9 ฿223
192.17%
Cinema Ticket
$15.29 $15.29
$5.8 ฿188
163.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Des Moines, IA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,380 $1,380
$308 ฿9,963
348.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12K $12K
$14.7K ฿475.8K
-18.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Des Moines, IA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53 $53
$55.4 ฿1,793
-4.37%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.04 $42.04
$26.4 ฿854
59.24%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74 $74
$85.1 ฿2,755
-13.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$127 $127
$71.8 ฿2,323
76.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Des Moines, IA
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,226 $1,226
$434 ฿14K
182.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$896 $896
$235 ฿7,610
280.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,740 $1,740
$821 ฿26.6K
111.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,494 $1,494
$498 ฿16.1K
199.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,284 $2,284
$2,180 ฿70.6K
4.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,291 $2,291
$1,543 ฿49.9K
48.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Des Moines, IA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,655 $3,655
$703 ฿22.8K
419.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.5
5
30.00%

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

Last update for Des Moines, IA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

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