Cost of Living Comparison Between Highland, CA and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Highland, CA and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,572 per month in Highland, CA vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,731 per month in Highland, CA vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,891 per month in Highland, CA vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Highland, CA costs about 202% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Highland, CA sits 92% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.85 $17.85

$1.96 ฿63.6

810.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.0 $81.0

$18.81 ฿611

330.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.04 $12.04

$7.92 ฿258

52.02%

Cappuccino

$5.10 $5.10

$1.91 ฿62.2

167.02%

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

$2.65 $2.65

$0.84 ฿27.25

215.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 $2.02

$0.35 ฿11.44

477.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.18 $7.18

$2.21 ฿71.7

224.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.14 $7.14

$3.80 ฿124

87.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 $1.11

$1.64 ฿53.2

-32.32%

White Bread (500g)

$4.05 $4.05

$1.62 ฿52.8

150.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.09 $4.09

$1.18 ฿38.40

246.61%

Eggs

$3.72 $3.72

$2.01 ฿65.4

85.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.53 $10.53

$15.89 ฿517

-33.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.50 $8.50

$3.01 ฿98.0

182.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.36 $14.36

$10.77 ฿350

33.33%

Apples (1kg)

$3.37 $3.37

$2.61 ฿85.0

29.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 $1.66

$1.22 ฿39.65

36.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.98 $3.98

$1.70 ฿55.4

134.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.59 $5.59

$1.58 ฿51.2

253.80%

Potato (1kg)

$3.18 $3.18

$1.32 ฿42.89

140.91%

Onion (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$1.17 ฿38.01

149.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.44 $1.44

$0.67 ฿21.85

114.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.09 $2.09

$0.56 ฿18.21

273.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.98 $10.98

$4.53 ฿147

142.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.10 $16.10

$18.20 ฿592

-11.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.83 ฿59.6

8.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 $3.43

$3.23 ฿105

6.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.04 $2.04

$0.89 ฿28.83

129.21%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.46 $29.46

$19.38 ฿630

52.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.61 $6.61

$1.35 ฿43.95

389.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.35 ฿43.79

22.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.40 $29.40

$8.25 ฿268

256.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 $1.24

$1.27 ฿41.40

-2.36%

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

$23.5K $23.5K

$21.2K ฿687.8K

11.00%

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

$24.3K $24.3K

$22.5K ฿731.0K

8.14%

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

$155 $155

$70.2 ฿2,281

120.88%

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

$46.81 $46.81

$13.77 ฿448

239.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.7 $59.7

$17.60 ฿572

239.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.69 $42.69

$41.57 ฿1,352

2.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿215

Cinema Ticket

$14.22 $14.22

$5.78 ฿188

146.02%

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

$1,186 $1,186

$306 ฿9,953

287.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.0K $23.0K

$14.8K ฿482.0K

55.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.53 $47.53

$54.4 ฿1,768

-12.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.08 $33.08

$26.14 ฿850

26.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.7 $86.7

$84.5 ฿2,748

2.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.3 $84.3

$69.4 ฿2,257

21.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,605 $1,605

$424 ฿13.8K

278.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,341 $1,341

$238 ฿7,743

463.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,584 $2,584

$825 ฿26.8K

213.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,247 $2,247

$515 ฿16.7K

336.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,797 $2,797

$2,049 ฿66.6K

36.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,388 $2,388

$1,523 ฿49.5K

56.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.58

31.60%

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

Last update for Highland, CA: April 25, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,605 in Highland, CA versus $424 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 $81.0 in Highland, CA versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $366 vs $243 – 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

Highland, CA vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Highland, CA costs about 202% 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,858 per month in Highland, CA and $1,278 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Kindergarten costs $1,186 per month in Highland, CA and $306 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 50% more in Highland, CA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $852, than in Highland, CA at $2,572. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Highland, CA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $2,572 in Highland, CA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Highland, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.