Cost of Living Comparison Between Honolulu, HI and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Honolulu, HI and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,694 per month in Honolulu, HI vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,680 per month in Honolulu, HI vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,665 per month in Honolulu, HI vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Honolulu, HI costs about 326% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Honolulu, HI sits 176% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$23.66 $23.66

$1.94 ฿63.8

1119.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$18.64 ฿611

437.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.85 $14.85

$7.82 ฿256

89.90%

Cappuccino

$6.95 $6.95

$1.95 ฿64.1

256.41%

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

$3.61 $3.61

$0.85 ฿27.90

324.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 $2.83

$0.35 ฿11.64

708.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.98 $7.98

$2.13 ฿69.9

274.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.82 $8.82

$3.73 ฿122

136.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.12 $2.12

$1.71 ฿56.2

23.98%

White Bread (500g)

$6.62 $6.62

$1.63 ฿53.4

306.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$10.08 $10.08

$1.14 ฿37.32

784.21%

Eggs

$7.70 $7.70

$1.93 ฿63.4

298.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$30.16 $30.16

$16.21 ฿532

86.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$19.27 $19.27

$3.12 ฿102

517.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.54 $19.54

$10.90 ฿357

79.27%

Apples (1kg)

$6.79 $6.79

$2.75 ฿90.4

146.91%

Banana (1kg)

$4.30 $4.30

$1.21 ฿39.70

255.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.64 $6.64

$1.62 ฿53.2

309.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$8.48 $8.48

$1.59 ฿52.1

433.33%

Potato (1kg)

$5.19 $5.19

$1.40 ฿45.91

270.71%

Onion (1kg)

$4.47 $4.47

$1.17 ฿38.34

282.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$4.85 $4.85

$0.66 ฿21.70

634.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.07 $3.07

$0.53 ฿17.30

479.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.06 $12.06

$4.69 ฿154

157.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.68 $19.68

$18.66 ฿612

5.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.52 $2.52

$1.80 ฿59.0

40.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.60 $5.60

$3.23 ฿106

73.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.01 $3.01

$0.90 ฿29.39

234.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$78.5 $78.5

$19.21 ฿630

308.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.47 $3.47

$1.41 ฿46.13

146.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.29 ฿42.31

108.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$43.96 $43.96

$7.84 ฿257

460.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 $1.23

$1.27 ฿41.77

-3.15%

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

$29.8K $29.8K

$21.3K ฿698.1K

40.12%

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

$24.3K $24.3K

$22.2K ฿728.8K

9.19%

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

$235 $235

$69.1 ฿2,266

239.84%

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

$65.4 $65.4

$14.08 ฿462

364.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.2 $68.2

$18.00 ฿591

278.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.7 $57.7

$41.06 ฿1,347

40.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.46 $28.46

$6.96 ฿228

308.91%

Cinema Ticket

$15.73 $15.73

$5.92 ฿194

165.71%

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

$1,495 $1,495

$299 ฿9,811

400.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.6K $20.6K

$15.0K ฿490.6K

37.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 $56.7

$54.7 ฿1,795

3.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.4 $60.4

$26.77 ฿878

125.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 $105

$85.0 ฿2,788

23.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$127 $127

$70.6 ฿2,316

79.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,079 $2,079

$428 ฿14.0K

385.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,877 $1,877

$237 ฿7,787

690.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,209 $4,209

$801 ฿26.3K

425.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,676 $3,676

$515 ฿16.9K

613.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,642 $8,642

$1,975 ฿64.8K

337.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,224 $7,224

$1,475 ฿48.4K

389.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,082 $4,082

$617 ฿20.3K

561.09%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.59

31.80%

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

Last update for Honolulu, HI: June 1, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,079 in Honolulu, HI 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 561% higher in Honolulu, HI, 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 $100 in Honolulu, HI versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $677 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

Honolulu, HI vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Honolulu, HI costs about 326% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,542 per month in Honolulu, HI and $1,300 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 $1,495 per month in Honolulu, HI and $299 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 175% more in Honolulu, HI, 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 $866, than in Honolulu, HI at $3,694. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Honolulu, HI it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $3,694 in Honolulu, HI. 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, Honolulu, HI makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.