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 $3,681 per month in Honolulu, HI vs $847 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,625 per month in Honolulu, HI vs $1,332 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,569 per month in Honolulu, HI vs $1,816 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Honolulu, HI costs about 334% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Honolulu, HI sits 175% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 37% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$23.16 $23.16

$2.03 ฿68.5

1040.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$18.71 ฿631

442.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.71 $14.71

$7.84 ฿265

87.63%

Cappuccino

$6.86 $6.86

$1.93 ฿65.0

255.44%

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

$3.78 $3.78

$0.83 ฿28.05

355.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 $2.86

$0.35 ฿11.82

717.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.12 $8.12

$2.22 ฿74.9

265.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.79 $8.79

$3.79 ฿128

131.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.01 $2.01

$1.65 ฿55.5

21.82%

White Bread (500g)

$6.53 $6.53

$1.55 ฿52.4

321.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$10.06 $10.06

$1.18 ฿39.86

752.54%

Eggs

$7.61 $7.61

$2.01 ฿68.0

278.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$30.72 $30.72

$16.16 ฿545

90.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.93 $18.93

$3.03 ฿102

524.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.94 $19.94

$10.84 ฿366

83.95%

Apples (1kg)

$7.12 $7.12

$2.68 ฿90.4

165.67%

Banana (1kg)

$4.16 $4.16

$1.22 ฿41.21

240.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.35 $6.35

$1.63 ฿54.9

289.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$8.36 $8.36

$1.53 ฿51.6

446.41%

Potato (1kg)

$5.06 $5.06

$1.34 ฿45.18

277.61%

Onion (1kg)

$4.48 $4.48

$1.21 ฿40.93

270.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$4.75 $4.75

$0.70 ฿23.67

578.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.17 $3.17

$0.53 ฿17.73

498.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.06 $12.06

$4.69 ฿158

157.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.10 $18.10

$17.71 ฿598

2.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.41 $2.41

$1.85 ฿62.3

30.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.59 $5.59

$3.21 ฿108

74.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.07 $3.07

$0.89 ฿30.07

244.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$79.3 $79.3

$18.76 ฿633

322.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.45 $3.45

$1.41 ฿47.48

144.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.55 $2.55

$1.29 ฿43.59

97.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$45.09 $45.09

$7.79 ฿263

478.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 $1.27

$1.29 ฿43.67

-1.55%

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

$30.4K $30.4K

$21.8K ฿734.7K

39.62%

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

$24.4K $24.4K

$21.7K ฿732.1K

12.64%

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

$231 $231

$70.0 ฿2,362

230.75%

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

$65.1 $65.1

$14.19 ฿479

358.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.2 $66.2

$17.42 ฿588

280.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$58.3 $58.3

$41.64 ฿1,405

39.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.57 $28.57

$6.89 ฿233

314.66%

Cinema Ticket

$15.82 $15.82

$5.78 ฿195

173.70%

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

$1,507 $1,507

$300 ฿10.1K

402.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.4K $20.4K

$14.5K ฿490.1K

40.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.5 $56.5

$55.4 ฿1,869

1.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.0 $59.0

$26.31 ฿888

124.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 $105

$84.8 ฿2,863

23.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$128 $128

$70.5 ฿2,379

81.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,073 $2,073

$425 ฿14.4K

387.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,880 $1,880

$235 ฿7,933

699.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,216 $4,216

$802 ฿27.1K

425.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,637 $3,637

$516 ฿17.4K

605.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,984 $8,984

$1,926 ฿65.0K

366.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,321 $7,321

$1,451 ฿49.0K

404.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,167 $4,167

$586 ฿19.8K

610.71%

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: July 19, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,073 in Honolulu, HI versus $425 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 611% 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 $101 in Honolulu, HI versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $671 vs $242 – 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 334% 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 $5,521 per month in Honolulu, HI and $1,271 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 $1,507 per month in Honolulu, HI and $300 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 177% 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 $847, than in Honolulu, HI at $3,681. 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 $847 versus $3,681 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.