Cost of Living Comparison Between Lake Macquarie and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Lake Macquarie and Chiang Mai

😐 Solo nomad: Lake Macquarie is 66.8% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 130.7% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Lake Macquarie is 99.4% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 143.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lake Macquarie
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.91 A$19.78
$2.02 ฿65.3
539.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$77.1 A$118
$18.78 ฿608
310.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.66 A$14.79
$7.67 ฿248
25.95%
Cappuccino
$3.34 A$5.12
$1.98 ฿64.2
68.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 A$3.65
$0.82 ฿26.64
190.24%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2 A$3.07
$0.33 ฿10.58
506.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.35 A$9.72
$2.12 ฿68.6
199.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.96 A$10.66
$3.73 ฿121
86.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lake Macquarie
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.37 A$2.1
$1.64 ฿53.2
-16.46%
White Bread (500g)
$1.44 A$2.2
$1.57 ฿50.9
-8.28%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 A$1.82
$1.19 ฿38.62
-
Eggs
$3.14 A$4.81
$1.98 ฿64.1
58.59%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.51 A$11.5
$15.99 ฿517
-53.03%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.07 A$9.3
$3.12 ฿101
94.55%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.78 A$18.05
$11.16 ฿361
5.56%
Apples (1kg)
$3.11 A$4.76
$2.76 ฿89.2
12.68%
Banana (1kg)
$2.7 A$4.13
$1.22 ฿39.5
121.31%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.16 A$4.84
$1.71 ฿55.4
84.80%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.33 A$6.64
$1.55 ฿50.2
179.35%
Potato (1kg)
$1.95 A$2.98
$1.34 ฿43.21
45.52%
Onion (1kg)
$1.74 A$2.66
$1.21 ฿39.23
43.80%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.35 A$2.07
$0.72 ฿23.2
87.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13 A$1.73
$0.53 ฿17.05
113.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$27.52 A$42.16
$4.72 ฿153
483.05%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.24 A$11.09
$18.39 ฿595
-60.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.62 A$4.02
$1.79 ฿57.9
46.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 A$3.3
$3.21 ฿104
-33.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Lake Macquarie
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.07 A$3.17
$0.94 ฿30.44
120.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$88.9 A$136
$18.9 ฿612
370.21%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.87 A$2.86
$1.42 ฿46.08
31.69%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.55 A$2.37
$1.35 ฿43.53
14.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$46.5 A$71.2
$7.85 ฿254
492.36%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.19 A$1.82
$1.25 ฿40.4
-4.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.9K A$38.2K
$21.2K ฿684.9K
17.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.2K A$30.9K
$21.8K ฿706.8K
-7.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lake Macquarie
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$204 A$313
$70.6 ฿2,285
189.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.26 A$15.72
$13.72 ฿444
-25.22%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.08 A$64.5
$17.56 ฿568
139.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lake Macquarie
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.44 A$75.7
$41.64 ฿1,347
18.73%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.88 A$24.33
$6.9 ฿223
130.14%
Cinema Ticket
$9.2 A$14.1
$5.8 ฿188
58.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lake Macquarie
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,446 A$2,215
$308 ฿9,963
369.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,951 A$15.2K
$14.7K ฿475.8K
-32.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lake Macquarie
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$73.4 A$112
$55.4 ฿1,793
32.53%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.88 A$51.9
$26.4 ฿854
28.33%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.6 A$117
$85.1 ฿2,755
-10.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$132 A$202
$71.8 ฿2,323
84.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lake Macquarie
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,240 A$1,900
$434 ฿14K
185.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$976 A$1,495
$235 ฿7,610
314.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,007 A$3,074
$821 ฿26.6K
144.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,055 A$3,148
$498 ฿16.1K
312.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,582 A$8,552
$2,180 ฿70.6K
156.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,951 A$7,584
$1,543 ฿49.9K
220.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lake Macquarie
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,783 A$7,327
$703 ฿22.8K
579.95%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.35
5
-13.00%

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

Last update for Lake Macquarie: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

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