Cost of Living Comparison Between Lima, OH and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Lima, OH and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,455 per month in Lima, OH vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,849 per month in Lima, OH vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,243 per month in Lima, OH vs $1,855 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Lima, OH costs about 183% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Lima, OH sits 83% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.85 $19.85

$1.98 ฿64.3

902.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.8 $78.8

$18.80 ฿612

318.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.13 $11.13

$7.75 ฿252

43.61%

Cappuccino

$4.91 $4.91

$1.92 ฿62.5

155.73%

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

$2.55 $2.55

$0.79 ฿25.79

222.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

$0.36 ฿11.62

497.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.69 $5.69

$2.21 ฿72.1

157.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.90 $6.90

$3.66 ฿119

88.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$1.65 ฿53.8

-46.06%

White Bread (500g)

$3.02 $3.02

$1.63 ฿53.2

85.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.18 $4.18

$1.19 ฿38.86

251.26%

Eggs

$3.19 $3.19

$2.00 ฿65.1

59.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.83 $12.83

$15.98 ฿520

-19.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.97 $13.97

$3.03 ฿98.5

361.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.35 $16.35

$10.86 ฿354

50.55%

Apples (1kg)

$6.20 $6.20

$2.76 ฿90.0

124.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.18 ฿38.42

14.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.75 $5.75

$1.64 ฿53.5

250.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.13 $5.13

$1.52 ฿49.51

237.50%

Potato (1kg)

$3.59 $3.59

$1.38 ฿45.10

160.14%

Onion (1kg)

$3.03 $3.03

$1.19 ฿38.84

154.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.17 $2.17

$0.70 ฿22.86

210.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

$0.56 ฿18.13

283.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.65 $9.65

$4.58 ฿149

110.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.29 $15.29

$16.56 ฿539

-7.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.94 $1.94

$1.83 ฿59.5

6.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$3.20 ฿104

-23.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.96 $1.96

$0.88 ฿28.56

122.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.14 $43.14

$18.72 ฿610

130.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.95 $2.95

$1.36 ฿44.16

116.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.34 ฿43.65

18.66%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.72 $26.72

$7.84 ฿256

240.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$1.23 ฿39.92

-30.08%

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

$30.1K $30.1K

$21.6K ฿704.3K

39.39%

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

$25.8K $25.8K

$22.5K ฿734.3K

14.42%

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

$267 $267

$70.5 ฿2,298

278.45%

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

$60.8 $60.8

$13.68 ฿445

344.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.1 $68.1

$17.45 ฿568

290.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.61 $37.61

$41.33 ฿1,346

-9.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.87 $34.87

$6.96 ฿227

401.01%

Cinema Ticket

$12.13 $12.13

$5.77 ฿188

110.23%

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

$1,233 $1,233

$307 ฿10.0K

301.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.5K $15.5K

$14.6K ฿475.9K

6.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.6 $55.6

$55.8 ฿1,817

-0.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.52 $38.52

$26.21 ฿854

46.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.5 $80.5

$85.8 ฿2,793

-6.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 $104

$72.2 ฿2,353

43.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$888 $888

$430 ฿14.0K

106.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,143 $1,143

$239 ฿7,774

378.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,642 $2,642

$817 ฿26.6K

223.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,226 $2,226

$511 ฿16.6K

335.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,414 $1,414

$1,983 ฿64.6K

-28.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,390 $1,390

$1,484 ฿48.3K

-6.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,132 $5,132

$619 ฿20.2K

729.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

30.20%

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

Last update for Lima, OH: June 8, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $888 in Lima, OH versus $430 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 729% higher in Lima, OH, 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 $79.0 in Lima, OH versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $410 vs $241 – 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

Lima, OH vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lima, OH costs about 183% 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 $3,683 per month in Lima, OH and $1,303 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.

Kindergarten costs $1,233 per month in Lima, OH and $307 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 70% more in Lima, OH, 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 $869, than in Lima, OH at $2,455. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lima, OH it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $869 versus $2,455 in Lima, OH. 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, Lima, OH makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.