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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,159 per month in Kailua, HI vs $950 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,084 per month in Kailua, HI vs $1,430 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $8,010 per month in Kailua, HI vs $1,909 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Kailua, HI costs about 338% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Kailua, HI sits 202% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 31% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$27.77 $27.77

$2.10 ฿69.3

1222.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$138 $138

$19.84 ฿656

594.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.47 $11.47

$5.79 ฿191

98.10%

Cappuccino

$6.30 $6.30

$1.83 ฿60.4

244.26%

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

$2.97 $2.97

$0.78 ฿25.61

280.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$0.31 ฿10.37

654.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.42 $9.42

$2.34 ฿77.2

302.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.90 $8.90

$3.70 ฿122

140.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.34 $2.34

$2.03 ฿67.1

15.27%

White Bread (500g)

$7.78 $7.78

$1.60 ฿52.7

386.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$7.63 $7.63

$1.42 ฿46.75

437.32%

Eggs

$8.55 $8.55

$2.18 ฿71.9

292.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.72 $18.72

$15.91 ฿526

17.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.02 $16.02

$3.07 ฿102

421.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$21.36 $21.36

$9.87 ฿326

116.41%

Apples (1kg)

$7.79 $7.79

$2.63 ฿86.8

196.20%

Banana (1kg)

$4.50 $4.50

$1.10 ฿36.19

309.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.76 $6.76

$1.63 ฿53.8

314.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$9.36 $9.36

$1.53 ฿50.6

511.76%

Potato (1kg)

$3.71 $3.71

$1.24 ฿41.13

199.19%

Onion (1kg)

$4.62 $4.62

$1.13 ฿37.37

308.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$4.46 $4.46

$0.74 ฿24.38

502.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.02 $3.02

$0.50 ฿16.48

504.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.79 $12.79

$4.28 ฿141

198.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.81 $16.81

$17.97 ฿594

-6.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.67 $2.67

$1.70 ฿56.1

57.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 $2.08

$2.90 ฿95.7

-28.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.95 $3.95

$0.94 ฿31.13

320.21%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$89.0 $89.0

$55.3 ฿1,827

60.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.46 $3.46

$1.23 ฿40.76

181.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.53 $2.53

$0.53 ฿17.66

377.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$45.04 $45.04

$2.40 ฿79.3

1776.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 $1.24

$1.44 ฿47.55

-13.89%

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

$36.2K $36.2K

$21.2K ฿700.2K

70.93%

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

$27.4K $27.4K

$27.3K ฿902.1K

0.25%

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

$244 $244

$64.9 ฿2,145

275.05%

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

$49.78 $49.78

$13.35 ฿441

272.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.3 $62.3

$20.83 ฿688

199.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$70.4 $70.4

$40.42 ฿1,336

74.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.49 $40.49

$3.95 ฿131

925.06%

Cinema Ticket

$18.40 $18.40

$6.71 ฿222

174.22%

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

$2,142 $2,142

$787 ฿26.0K

172.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$27.3K $27.3K

$15.1K ฿499.6K

80.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.8 $61.8

$56.2 ฿1,858

9.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.85 $46.85

$24.95 ฿824

87.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$92.7 ฿3,063

9.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$130 $130

$75.1 ฿2,482

72.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,761 $2,761

$484 ฿16.0K

470.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,303 $2,303

$287 ฿9,491

701.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,192 $4,192

$910 ฿30.1K

360.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,747 $3,747

$531 ฿17.5K

606.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$12.7K $12.7K

$1,980 ฿65.4K

539.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$9,805 $9,805

$1,451 ฿47.9K

575.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,769 $4,769

$605 ฿20.0K

687.98%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.26

5.57

12.39%

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

Last update for Kailua, HI: September 6, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,761 in Kailua, HI versus $484 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 688% higher in Kailua, 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 $138 in Kailua, HI versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $632 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

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

Kailua, HI costs about 338% 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 $6,238 per month in Kailua, HI and $1,426 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 $2,142 per month in Kailua, HI and $787 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 161% more in Kailua, 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 $950, than in Kailua, HI at $4,159. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kailua, HI it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $950 versus $4,159 in Kailua, 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, Kailua, HI makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.