Cost of Living Comparison Between Kalgoorlie and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Kalgoorlie and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,760 per month in Kalgoorlie vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,038 per month in Kalgoorlie vs $1,360 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,315 per month in Kalgoorlie vs $1,867 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Kalgoorlie costs about 107% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Kalgoorlie sits 32% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kalgoorlie
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.28 A$23.10
$2.04 ฿68.2
698.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$77.2 A$109
$18.71 ฿624
312.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.67 A$13.72
$7.86 ฿262
23.03%
Cappuccino
$4.30 A$6.11
$2.03 ฿67.7
111.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.51 A$4.98
$0.80 ฿26.64
338.75%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33 A$4.72
$0.35 ฿11.68
851.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.02 A$8.54
$2.14 ฿71.5
181.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.94 A$9.84
$3.67 ฿122
89.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kalgoorlie
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.48 A$2.10
$1.73 ฿57.6
-14.45%
White Bread (500g)
$3.29 A$4.66
$1.57 ฿52.4
109.55%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.96 A$2.78
$1.20 ฿39.99
63.33%
Eggs
$3.98 A$5.65
$1.97 ฿65.8
102.03%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.47 A$12.02
$16.23 ฿541
-47.81%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.20 A$11.64
$3.06 ฿102
167.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.58 A$19.27
$10.80 ฿360
25.74%
Apples (1kg)
$3.34 A$4.74
$2.77 ฿92.3
20.58%
Banana (1kg)
$2.73 A$3.88
$1.17 ฿38.94
133.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.89 A$4.11
$1.71 ฿57.0
69.01%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.17 A$5.91
$1.59 ฿53.2
162.26%
Potato (1kg)
$2.43 A$3.45
$1.39 ฿46.51
74.82%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 A$3.11
$1.16 ฿38.56
88.79%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.90 A$2.70
$0.66 ฿22.05
187.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.56 A$2.22
$0.52 ฿17.31
200.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$31.11 A$44.14
$4.65 ฿155
569.03%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.92 A$19.74
$17.78 ฿593
-21.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.61 A$6.54
$1.79 ฿59.6
157.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.26 A$7.46
$3.34 ฿111
57.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Kalgoorlie
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.54 A$3.60
$0.91 ฿30.27
179.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$64.8 A$91.9
$18.64 ฿622
247.37%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.67 A$5.21
$1.41 ฿47.04
160.28%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.62 A$2.30
$1.34 ฿44.70
20.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$33.51 A$47.55
$8.11 ฿270
313.19%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.26 A$1.79
$1.23 ฿41.16
2.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.5K A$40.4K
$21.4K ฿715.1K
32.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.9K A$32.5K
$21.8K ฿728.0K
4.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kalgoorlie
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$287 A$407
$71.3 ฿2,379
302.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.0 A$72.4
$14.01 ฿467
264.24%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.8 A$91.9
$17.93 ฿598
261.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kalgoorlie
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.22 A$49.97
$40.82 ฿1,362
-13.72%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.69 A$22.26
$6.88 ฿230
128.05%
Cinema Ticket
$16.29 A$23.11
$5.72 ฿191
184.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kalgoorlie
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,645 A$2,334
$308 ฿10.3K
433.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.0K A$17.1K
$14.7K ฿489.7K
-17.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kalgoorlie
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.0 A$96.5
$55.8 ฿1,860
21.95%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.1 A$71.1
$26.04 ฿869
92.47%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.2 A$139
$84.8 ฿2,829
15.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 A$151
$71.0 ฿2,368
50.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kalgoorlie
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,251 A$1,775
$423 ฿14.1K
195.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$461 A$654
$242 ฿8,088
90.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,580 A$2,242
$797 ฿26.6K
98.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,449 A$2,056
$507 ฿16.9K
185.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,961 A$8,458
$1,918 ฿64.0K
210.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,057 A$7,175
$1,464 ฿48.8K
245.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kalgoorlie
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,041 A$8,571
$595 ฿19.9K
915.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.34
5
26.80%

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

Last update for Kalgoorlie: July 28, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,251 in Kalgoorlie versus $423 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 915% higher in Kalgoorlie, 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 $77.0 in Kalgoorlie versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $344 vs $244 – 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
Kalgoorlie vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kalgoorlie or Chiang Mai?
Kalgoorlie costs about 107% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Kalgoorlie and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,641 per month in Kalgoorlie and $1,279 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Kalgoorlie or Chiang Mai?
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.
How do childcare costs compare in Kalgoorlie and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $1,645 per month in Kalgoorlie and $308 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Kalgoorlie or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 41% more in Kalgoorlie, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Kalgoorlie or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $852, than in Kalgoorlie at $1,760. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kalgoorlie it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Kalgoorlie or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $1,760 in Kalgoorlie. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Kalgoorlie compared to Chiang Mai?
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.
Should I move to Kalgoorlie or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kalgoorlie makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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