Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Kalgoorlie and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $938 a month against $1,929 in Kalgoorlie, rent and utilities included – about $11,900 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Kalgoorlie
🇦🇺 Australia
$1,929
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$938
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Kalgoorlie and in Chiang Mai

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Kalgoorlie and in Chiang Mai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,929 per month in Kalgoorlie vs $938 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Kalgoorlie $1,929
  • Chiang Mai $938

A couple spends around $3,287 per month in Kalgoorlie vs $1,426 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Kalgoorlie $3,287
  • Chiang Mai $1,426

A family of three spends $4,645 per month in Kalgoorlie vs $1,914 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Kalgoorlie $4,645
  • Chiang Mai $1,914

Kalgoorlie costs about 106% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Kalgoorlie sits 43% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 30% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kalgoorlie
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.55 A$25.25
$2.26 ฿75.4
676.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.3 A$121
$19.18 ฿641
339.31%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.63 A$15.29
$5.59 ฿187
90.16%
Cappuccino
$4.42 A$6.36
$1.72 ฿57.6
156.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 A$5.35
$0.64 ฿21.54
481.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58 A$5.15
$0.33 ฿11.18
984.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.37 A$9.16
$2.36 ฿78.7
169.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.24 A$10.42
$3.90 ฿130
85.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kalgoorlie
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.53 A$2.20
$2.05 ฿68.6
-25.37%
White Bread (500g)
$3.46 A$4.99
$1.40 ฿46.70
147.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.28 A$3.28
$1.28 ฿42.89
78.12%
Eggs
$4.52 A$6.50
$2.25 ฿75.3
100.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.34 A$13.44
$16.94 ฿566
-44.86%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.09 A$13.08
$2.74 ฿91.6
231.75%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.84 A$21.35
$9.36 ฿313
58.55%
Apples (1kg)
$3.80 A$5.46
$2.40 ฿80.3
58.33%
Banana (1kg)
$2.99 A$4.30
$1.01 ฿33.92
196.04%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.34 A$4.80
$1.61 ฿53.9
107.45%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.72 A$6.78
$1.52 ฿50.7
210.53%
Potato (1kg)
$2.68 A$3.86
$1.28 ฿42.90
109.38%
Onion (1kg)
$2.33 A$3.36
$1.11 ฿37.22
109.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.14 A$3.08
$0.72 ฿24.09
197.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.49 A$2.15
$0.52 ฿17.54
186.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$40.93 A$58.9
$4.33 ฿145
845.27%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.69 A$19.70
$17.73 ฿593
-22.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.82 A$6.94
$1.63 ฿54.4
195.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.16 A$7.43
$2.85 ฿95.3
81.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Kalgoorlie
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.94 A$4.23
$0.85 ฿28.31
245.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$81.8 A$118
$53.9 ฿1,801
51.82%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.51 A$5.05
$1.17 ฿39.18
200.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.47 A$2.12
$0.57 ฿19.00
157.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$43.13 A$62.1
$2.37 ฿79.2
1719.83%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 A$1.95
$1.45 ฿48.32
-6.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.0K A$33.2K
$20.5K ฿684.3K
12.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.7K A$48.5K
$26.5K ฿886.1K
27.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kalgoorlie
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$310 A$446
$62.3 ฿2,083
396.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$55.8 A$80.3
$12.27 ฿410
354.60%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.5 A$98.6
$19.97 ฿668
242.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kalgoorlie
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.87 A$54.5
$37.91 ฿1,267
-0.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.04 A$28.83
$3.76 ฿126
432.98%
Cinema Ticket
$17.75 A$25.54
$6.71 ฿224
164.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kalgoorlie
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,839 A$2,646
$797 ฿26.6K
130.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.3K A$26.3K
$14.8K ฿495.7K
23.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kalgoorlie
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$78.2 A$113
$53.3 ฿1,780
46.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.3 A$79.5
$25.05 ฿837
120.56%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$107 A$155
$91.6 ฿3,062
17.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$132 A$189
$73.5 ฿2,455
79.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kalgoorlie
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,387 A$1,996
$464 ฿15.5K
198.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$479 A$689
$305 ฿10.2K
57.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,659 A$2,387
$915 ฿30.6K
81.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,543 A$2,221
$552 ฿18.5K
179.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,435 A$7,821
$1,912 ฿63.9K
184.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,339 A$7,683
$1,438 ฿48.1K
271.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kalgoorlie
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,038 A$8,688
$595 ฿19.9K
914.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.25
5.57
12.21%

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

Last update for Kalgoorlie: October 10, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Kalgoorlie
$479
Chiang Mai
$305 36.4% $174
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kalgoorlie
$434
Chiang Mai
$95 78.2% $339
Groceries & Markets
Kalgoorlie
$370
Chiang Mai
$238 35.7% $132
Eating Out
Kalgoorlie
$301
Chiang Mai
$79 73.7% $222
Clothing & Footwear
Kalgoorlie
$168
Chiang Mai
$110 34.7% $58
Getting Around
Kalgoorlie
$104
Chiang Mai
$61 41.3% $43
Sport & Entertainment
Kalgoorlie
$73
Chiang Mai
$51 30% $22

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,387 in Kalgoorlie versus $464 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 914% 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 $84.0 in Kalgoorlie versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $370 vs $238 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇦🇺 Kalgoorlie
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
18:11 6:11 PM
17:11 5:11 PM
1 h behind Kalgoorlie
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
29,068
127,240
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to AUD – Australian Dollar Converter

Australian Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 1.44 AUD (1 AUD = 0.695 USD). 1 EUR = 1.62 AUD (1 AUD = 0.618 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Kalgoorlie Chiang Mai 6,010 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Kalgoorlie
  • Chiang Mai

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 106% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from 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 $2,894 per month in Kalgoorlie and $1,408 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 $1,839 per month in Kalgoorlie and $797 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 55% 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 $938, than in Kalgoorlie at $1,929. 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 $938 versus $1,929 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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