Cost of Living Comparison Between Kearney, NE and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Kearney, NE and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,008 per month in Kearney, NE vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,848 per month in Kearney, NE vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,688 per month in Kearney, NE vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Kearney, NE costs about 136% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Kearney, NE sits 50% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.16 $15.16

$1.96 ฿64.0

673.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.1 $59.1

$18.81 ฿615

214.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.63 $11.63

$7.92 ฿259

46.84%

Cappuccino

$5.13 $5.13

$1.91 ฿62.6

168.59%

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

$2.15 $2.15

$0.84 ฿27.41

155.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 $2.02

$0.35 ฿11.51

477.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.11 $4.11

$2.21 ฿72.1

85.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.12 $5.12

$3.80 ฿124

34.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$1.64 ฿53.5

-47.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.62 ฿53.1

4.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.65 $3.65

$1.18 ฿38.62

209.32%

Eggs

$3.42 $3.42

$2.01 ฿65.8

70.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.05 $9.05

$15.89 ฿520

-43.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.50 $6.50

$3.01 ฿98.5

115.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.42 $15.42

$10.77 ฿352

43.18%

Apples (1kg)

$6.73 $6.73

$2.61 ฿85.5

157.85%

Banana (1kg)

$2.15 $2.15

$1.22 ฿39.88

76.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.84 $5.84

$1.70 ฿55.7

243.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.05 $5.05

$1.58 ฿51.5

219.62%

Potato (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.32 ฿43.14

33.33%

Onion (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$1.17 ฿38.23

135.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.10 $2.10

$0.67 ฿21.98

213.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.49 $2.49

$0.56 ฿18.32

344.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.32 $9.32

$4.53 ฿148

105.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.79 $14.79

$18.20 ฿595

-18.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 $1.73

$1.83 ฿60.0

-5.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 $1.99

$3.23 ฿106

-38.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.98 $1.98

$0.89 ฿29.00

122.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.98 $2.98

$1.35 ฿44.20

120.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.40 $1.40

$1.35 ฿44.05

3.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.57 $25.57

$8.25 ฿270

209.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$1.27 ฿41.64

-32.28%

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

$23.5K $23.5K

$21.2K ฿691.8K

11.24%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$22.5K ฿735.3K

19.05%

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

$334 $334

$70.2 ฿2,294

376.75%

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

$52.4 $52.4

$13.77 ฿450

280.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.8 $66.8

$17.60 ฿575

279.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.4 $54.4

$41.57 ฿1,360

30.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.16 $6.16

$6.60 ฿216

-6.67%

Cinema Ticket

$12.72 $12.72

$5.78 ฿189

120.07%

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

$926 $926

$306 ฿10.0K

202.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.7K $24.7K

$14.8K ฿484.8K

66.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.98 $29.98

$54.4 ฿1,778

-44.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.80 $37.80

$26.14 ฿855

44.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 $94.1

$84.5 ฿2,764

11.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 $112

$69.4 ฿2,270

60.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$928 $928

$424 ฿13.9K

119.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$729 $729

$238 ฿7,788

206.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,599 $2,599

$825 ฿27.0K

215.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,044 $1,044

$515 ฿16.8K

102.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,516 $1,516

$2,049 ฿67.0K

-26.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,540 $1,540

$1,523 ฿49.8K

1.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,404 $7,404

$635 ฿20.8K

1065.63%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

30.00%

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

Last update for Kearney, NE: April 25, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $928 in Kearney, NE 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.

Salaries run about 1066% higher in Kearney, NE, 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 $59.0 in Kearney, NE versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $346 vs $243 – 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

Kearney, NE vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kearney, NE costs about 136% 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,012 per month in Kearney, NE and $1,278 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $59.0 in Kearney, NE and $19.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 42% more in Kearney, NE, 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 $852, than in Kearney, NE at $2,008. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kearney, NE it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $2,008 in Kearney, NE. 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, Kearney, NE makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.