Cost of Living Comparison Between Iowa City, IA and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Iowa City, IA and Chiang Mai

😐 Solo nomad: Iowa City, IA is 93.4% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 164.2% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Iowa City, IA is 109.9% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 124.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Iowa City, IA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.27 $15.27
$2.02 ฿65.3
655.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.8 $75.8
$18.78 ฿608
303.78%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.76 $8.76
$7.67 ฿248
14.21%
Cappuccino
$5.26 $5.26
$1.98 ฿64.2
165.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 $2.38
$0.82 ฿26.64
190.24%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79 $1.79
$0.33 ฿10.58
442.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.05 $5.05
$2.12 ฿68.6
138.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.11 $7.11
$3.73 ฿121
90.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Iowa City, IA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.87 $0.87
$1.64 ฿53.2
-46.95%
White Bread (500g)
$2.75 $2.75
$1.57 ฿50.9
75.16%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.74 $4.74
$1.19 ฿38.62
298.32%
Eggs
$4.09 $4.09
$1.98 ฿64.1
106.57%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.32 $9.32
$15.99 ฿517
-41.71%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.46 $10.46
$3.12 ฿101
235.26%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.66 $16.66
$11.16 ฿361
49.28%
Apples (1kg)
$3.29 $3.29
$2.76 ฿89.2
19.20%
Banana (1kg)
$1.16 $1.16
$1.22 ฿39.5
-4.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.76 $2.76
$1.71 ฿55.4
61.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.64 $4.64
$1.55 ฿50.2
199.35%
Potato (1kg)
$2.05 $2.05
$1.34 ฿43.21
52.99%
Onion (1kg)
$2.86 $2.86
$1.21 ฿39.23
136.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.01 $2.01
$0.72 ฿23.2
179.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.97 $1.97
$0.53 ฿17.05
271.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.21 $9.21
$4.72 ฿153
95.13%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.1 $12.1
$18.39 ฿595
-34.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 $1.76
$1.79 ฿57.9
-1.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.69 $4.69
$3.21 ฿104
46.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Iowa City, IA
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.02 $2.02
$0.94 ฿30.44
114.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.78 $15.78
$18.9 ฿612
-16.51%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.54 $4.54
$1.42 ฿46.08
219.72%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.22 $2.22
$1.35 ฿43.53
64.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$42.62 $42.62
$7.85 ฿254
442.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 $0.83
$1.25 ฿40.4
-33.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.9K $24.9K
$21.2K ฿684.9K
17.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5K $25.5K
$21.8K ฿706.8K
16.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Iowa City, IA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$219 $219
$70.6 ฿2,285
210.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$50.2 $50.2
$13.72 ฿444
265.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$73.8 $73.8
$17.56 ฿568
320.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Iowa City, IA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.89 $48.89
$41.64 ฿1,347
17.41%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.26 $20.26
$6.9 ฿223
193.62%
Cinema Ticket
$12.21 $12.21
$5.8 ฿188
110.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Iowa City, IA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,252 $1,252
$308 ฿9,963
306.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.9K $24.9K
$14.7K ฿475.8K
69.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Iowa City, IA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.1 $67.1
$55.4 ฿1,793
21.03%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.76 $47.76
$26.4 ฿854
80.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.3 $98.3
$85.1 ฿2,755
15.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116 $116
$71.8 ฿2,323
61.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Iowa City, IA
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,227 $1,227
$434 ฿14K
182.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,105 $1,105
$235 ฿7,610
369.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,402 $2,402
$821 ฿26.6K
192.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,549 $1,549
$498 ฿16.1K
210.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,842 $3,842
$2,180 ฿70.6K
76.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,800 $1,800
$1,543 ฿49.9K
16.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Iowa City, IA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,808 $3,808
$703 ฿22.8K
441.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.43
5
28.60%

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

Last update for Iowa City, IA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

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