ðA single person spends $1,802 per month in Kalgoorlie vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
ðA couple spends around $3,065 per month in Kalgoorlie vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
ðA family of three spends $4,329 per month in Kalgoorlie vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
ðKalgoorlie costs about 112% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðKalgoorlie sits 35% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 36% below â they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Kalgoorlie
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.03A$22.28
$1.96āļŋ63.6
717.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.5A$110
$18.81āļŋ611
322.43%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.65A$13.42
$7.92āļŋ258
21.84%
Cappuccino
$4.20A$5.84
$1.91āļŋ62.2
119.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68A$5.11
$0.84āļŋ27.25
338.10%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.19A$4.43
$0.35āļŋ11.44
811.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.70A$7.92
$2.21āļŋ71.7
157.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.95A$9.66
$3.80āļŋ124
82.89%
ð Groceries & Markets
Kalgoorlie
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.47A$2.05
$1.64āļŋ53.2
-10.37%
White Bread(500g)
$3.31A$4.59
$1.62āļŋ52.8
104.32%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.94A$2.70
$1.18āļŋ38.40
64.41%
Eggs
$3.82A$5.30
$2.01āļŋ65.4
90.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.30A$11.53
$15.89āļŋ517
-47.77%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.39A$11.67
$3.01āļŋ98.0
178.74%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.93A$19.36
$10.77āļŋ350
29.34%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23A$4.49
$2.61āļŋ85.0
23.75%
Banana(1kg)
$2.75A$3.82
$1.22āļŋ39.65
125.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.89A$4.02
$1.70āļŋ55.4
70.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.08A$5.67
$1.58āļŋ51.2
158.23%
Potato(1kg)
$2.41A$3.35
$1.32āļŋ42.89
82.58%
Onion(1kg)
$2.10A$2.92
$1.17āļŋ38.01
79.49%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.98A$2.75
$0.67āļŋ21.85
195.52%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.54A$2.14
$0.56āļŋ18.21
175.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$30.97A$43.04
$4.53āļŋ147
583.66%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.27A$19.83
$18.20āļŋ592
-21.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.60A$6.39
$1.83āļŋ59.6
151.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.41A$7.51
$3.23āļŋ105
67.49%
ð Getting Around
Kalgoorlie
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.65A$3.69
$0.89āļŋ28.83
197.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$63.8A$88.6
$19.38āļŋ630
228.95%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.63A$5.04
$1.35āļŋ43.95
168.89%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.60A$2.23
$1.35āļŋ43.79
18.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.10A$47.39
$8.25āļŋ268
313.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27A$1.77
$1.27āļŋ41.40
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.3KA$40.7K
$21.2Kāļŋ687.8K
38.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.8KA$31.7K
$22.5Kāļŋ731.0K
1.51%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kalgoorlie
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$292A$406
$70.2āļŋ2,281
315.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.4A$72.8
$13.77āļŋ448
280.32%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.6A$91.1
$17.60āļŋ572
272.56%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Kalgoorlie
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$35.88A$49.87
$41.57āļŋ1,352
-13.69%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.84A$22.02
$6.60āļŋ215
140.00%
Cinema Ticket
$16.42A$22.82
$5.78āļŋ188
184.08%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Kalgoorlie
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,647A$2,289
$306āļŋ9,953
437.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.9KA$16.6K
$14.8Kāļŋ482.0K
-19.60%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Kalgoorlie
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.3A$94.9
$54.4āļŋ1,768
25.62%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.61A$69.0
$26.14āļŋ850
89.79%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.0A$136
$84.5āļŋ2,748
15.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108A$151
$69.4āļŋ2,257
55.98%
ð Accommodation & Living
Kalgoorlie
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,264A$1,757
$424āļŋ13.8K
198.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$458A$637
$238āļŋ7,743
92.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,557A$2,164
$825āļŋ26.8K
88.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,439A$2,001
$515āļŋ16.7K
179.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,170A$8,577
$2,049āļŋ66.6K
201.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,985A$6,930
$1,523āļŋ49.5K
227.38%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Kalgoorlie
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$6,167A$8,572
$635āļŋ20.6K
870.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.34
5
26.80%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kalgoorlie: April 28, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A central one-bedroom costs $1,264 in Kalgoorlie versus $424 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.
ð°Salaries run about 871% higher in Kalgoorlie, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
ðA mid-range dinner for two costs $79.0 in Kalgoorlie versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $344 vs $243 â 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 112% 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 vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,703 per month in Kalgoorlie and $1,278 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled â 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 Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $1,647 per month in Kalgoorlie and $306 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 Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 42% 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 Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $852, than in Kalgoorlie at $1,802. 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 $1,802 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 â central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Kalgoorlie or 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.
Kalgoorlie vs other spots: cost of living compared