Cost of Living Comparison Between Helena, MT and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Helena, MT and Chiang Mai

😐 Solo nomad: Helena, MT is 145.6% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 260.7% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Helena, MT is 114.5% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 212.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Helena, MT
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.75 $19.75
$2.03 ฿64.6
872.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$88.6 $88.6
$18.59 ฿593
376.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.75 $13.75
$7.48 ฿238
83.82%
Cappuccino
$5.00 $5.00
$2.00 ฿63.7
150.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16 $2.16
$0.85 ฿27.01
154.12%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77 $1.77
$0.35 ฿11.21
405.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.93 $4.93
$2.21 ฿70.5
123.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.49 $6.49
$3.76 ฿120
72.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Helena, MT
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 $1.14
$1.72 ฿54.8
-33.72%
White Bread (500g)
$4.46 $4.46
$1.63 ฿52.1
173.62%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.72 $3.72
$1.16 ฿36.93
220.69%
Eggs
$4.16 $4.16
$1.98 ฿63.1
110.10%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$31.61 $31.61
$15.93 ฿508
98.43%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.54 $9.54
$3.17 ฿101
200.95%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.08 $20.08
$10.90 ฿348
84.22%
Apples (1kg)
$4.88 $4.88
$2.65 ฿84.3
84.15%
Banana (1kg)
$1.76 $1.76
$1.22 ฿38.98
44.26%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.40 $4.40
$1.70 ฿54.1
158.82%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.58 $5.58
$1.59 ฿50.7
250.94%
Potato (1kg)
$2.21 $2.21
$1.32 ฿42.21
67.42%
Onion (1kg)
$1.84 $1.84
$1.17 ฿37.25
57.26%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.72 $1.72
$0.68 ฿21.61
152.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.26 $2.26
$0.56 ฿17.76
303.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.97 $9.97
$4.51 ฿144
121.06%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.07 $13.07
$19.07 ฿608
-31.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.77 ฿56.4
-3.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52 $2.52
$3.18 ฿101
-20.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Helena, MT
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.42 $3.42
$0.96 ฿30.70
256.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$59.7 $59.7
$18.90 ฿602
216.03%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$10.02 $10.02
$1.36 ฿43.29
636.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.36 $3.36
$1.35 ฿43.11
148.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$44.37 $44.37
$8.03 ฿256
452.55%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.88 $0.88
$1.24 ฿39.62
-29.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.2K $36.2K
$21.2K ฿674.7K
71.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.1K $30.1K
$21.8K ฿693.5K
38.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Helena, MT
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$359 $359
$71.2 ฿2,271
403.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$76.8 $76.8
$14.09 ฿449
445.21%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$92.8 $92.8
$17.47 ฿557
431.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Helena, MT
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$50.9 $50.9
$42.07 ฿1,341
21.01%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.88 $14.88
$6.88 ฿219
116.28%
Cinema Ticket
$10.66 $10.66
$5.94 ฿189
79.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Helena, MT
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,915 $1,915
$307 ฿9,799
523.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.3K $23.3K
$14.8K ฿471.6K
57.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Helena, MT
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.4 $61.4
$55.7 ฿1,775
10.29%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$119 $119
$26.79 ฿854
345.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.2 $89.2
$83.2 ฿2,653
7.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 $114
$70.1 ฿2,235
62.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Helena, MT
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,668 $1,668
$427 ฿13.6K
290.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,406 $1,406
$237 ฿7,559
493.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,606 $2,606
$802 ฿25.6K
225.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,183 $2,183
$503 ฿16.0K
333.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,796 $3,796
$2,061 ฿65.7K
84.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,200 $3,200
$1,533 ฿48.9K
108.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Helena, MT
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,847 $6,847
$654 ฿20.8K
947.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.71
5
34.20%

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

Last update for Helena, MT: March 1, 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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