😐A single person spends $2,255 per month in Eagan vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,373 per month in Eagan vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,490 per month in Eagan vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Eagan costs about 160% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Eagan sits 68% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Eagan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.29$18.29
$1.94฿63.8
842.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.7$70.7
$18.64฿611
279.29%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.78$11.78
$7.82฿256
50.64%
Cappuccino
$5.98$5.98
$1.95฿64.1
206.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30$2.30
$0.85฿27.90
170.59%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52$1.52
$0.35฿11.64
334.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.29$4.29
$2.13฿69.9
101.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.16$7.16
$3.73฿122
91.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Eagan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.94$0.94
$1.71฿56.2
-45.03%
White Bread(500g)
$3.34$3.34
$1.63฿53.4
104.91%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.49$5.49
$1.14฿37.32
381.58%
Eggs
$3.04$3.04
$1.93฿63.4
57.51%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.90$10.90
$16.21฿532
-32.76%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.05$12.05
$3.12฿102
286.22%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.57$17.57
$10.90฿357
61.19%
Apples(1kg)
$5.39$5.39
$2.75฿90.4
96.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.78$1.78
$1.21฿39.70
47.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12$2.12
$1.62฿53.2
30.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.63$5.63
$1.59฿52.1
254.09%
Potato(1kg)
$3.04$3.04
$1.40฿45.91
117.14%
Onion(1kg)
$1.86$1.86
$1.17฿38.34
58.97%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.74$1.74
$0.66฿21.70
163.64%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.12$2.12
$0.53฿17.30
300.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.68$9.68
$4.69฿154
106.40%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.03$16.03
$18.66฿612
-14.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.25$2.25
$1.80฿59.0
25.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03$2.03
$3.23฿106
-37.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Eagan
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.38$3.38
$0.90฿29.39
275.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$84.1$84.1
$19.21฿630
337.74%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.64$4.64
$1.41฿46.13
229.08%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.69$1.69
$1.29฿42.31
31.01%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$23.84$23.84
$7.84฿257
204.08%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.91$0.91
$1.27฿41.77
-28.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.9K$29.9K
$21.3K฿698.1K
40.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.3K$24.3K
$22.2K฿728.8K
9.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Eagan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$164$164
$69.1฿2,266
136.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.8$51.8
$14.08฿462
268.18%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.3$67.3
$18.00฿591
273.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Eagan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$10.63$10.63
$41.06฿1,347
-74.11%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.82$21.82
$6.96฿228
213.51%
Cinema Ticket
$14.83$14.83
$5.92฿194
150.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Eagan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,637$1,637
$299฿9,811
447.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$26.5K$26.5K
$15.0K฿490.6K
77.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Eagan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$38.29$38.29
$54.7฿1,795
-30.00%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.22$19.22
$26.77฿878
-28.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.4$76.4
$85.0฿2,788
-10.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118$118
$70.6฿2,316
67.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Eagan
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,600$1,600
$428฿14.0K
273.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$979$979
$237฿7,787
312.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,367$2,367
$801฿26.3K
195.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,652$1,652
$515฿16.9K
220.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,773$2,773
$1,975฿64.8K
40.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,414$2,414
$1,475฿48.4K
63.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Eagan
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,475$4,475
$617฿20.3K
624.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.51
5
30.20%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Eagan: May 30, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,600 in Eagan versus $428 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.
💰Salaries run about 625% higher in Eagan, 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 $71.0 in Eagan versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $389 vs $246 – 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
Eagan vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Eagan or Chiang Mai?
Eagan costs about 160% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Eagan vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,383 per month in Eagan and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Eagan 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 childcare costs compare in Eagan and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $1,637 per month in Eagan and $299 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Eagan or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 58% more in Eagan, 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 Eagan or Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Eagan at $2,255. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Eagan it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Eagan or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $2,255 in Eagan. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Eagan 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 Eagan or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Eagan makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.