Cost of Living Comparison Between Los Alamos, NM and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Los Alamos, NM and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,071 per month in Los Alamos, NM vs $947 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,671 per month in Los Alamos, NM vs $1,411 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,272 per month in Los Alamos, NM vs $1,874 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Los Alamos, NM costs about 13% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Los Alamos, NM and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Los Alamos, NM 22% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.67 $16.67

$2.08 ฿68.6

701.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.36 $40.36

$19.64 ฿646

105.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.92 $9.92

$5.65 ฿186

75.58%

Cappuccino

$5.11 $5.11

$1.81 ฿59.4

182.32%

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

$2.53 $2.53

$0.71 ฿23.46

256.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 $1.46

$0.32 ฿10.39

356.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.14 $6.14

$2.24 ฿73.6

174.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.97 $6.97

$3.63 ฿120

92.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$1.96 ฿64.4

-55.10%

White Bread (500g)

$2.23 $2.23

$1.50 ฿49.42

48.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.54 $4.54

$1.34 ฿43.96

238.81%

Eggs

$3.91 $3.91

$2.26 ฿74.5

73.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.90 $11.90

$16.26 ฿535

-26.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.21 $9.21

$2.95 ฿97.2

212.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.60 $17.60

$9.94 ฿327

77.06%

Apples (1kg)

$4.70 $4.70

$2.57 ฿84.6

82.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.06 ฿34.75

34.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.91 $2.91

$1.61 ฿53.0

80.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.44 $4.44

$1.52 ฿50.0

192.11%

Potato (1kg)

$1.12 $1.12

$1.27 ฿41.80

-11.81%

Onion (1kg)

$3.36 $3.36

$1.07 ฿35.09

214.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$0.72 ฿23.70

170.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 $0.48

$0.51 ฿16.73

-5.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.49 $10.49

$4.19 ฿138

150.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.81 $13.81

$17.87 ฿588

-22.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.49 $2.49

$1.69 ฿55.7

47.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 $3.58

$2.84 ฿93.3

26.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.45

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,772

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.70 $3.70

$1.23 ฿40.61

200.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.03 $2.03

$0.58 ฿18.97

250.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$31.94 $31.94

$2.42 ฿79.8

1219.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 $0.84

$1.41 ฿46.46

-40.43%

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

$30.8K $30.8K

$21.4K ฿705.5K

43.84%

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

$24.6K $24.6K

$27.3K ฿899.3K

-9.95%

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

$155 $155

$63.7 ฿2,095

142.86%

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

$40.16 $40.16

$12.85 ฿423

212.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.3 $73.3

$20.22 ฿665

262.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,275

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$13.14 $13.14

$6.74 ฿222

94.96%

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

$1,473 $1,473

$778 ฿25.6K

89.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.3K $25.3K

$14.6K ฿480.7K

73.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.97 $19.97

$54.3 ฿1,786

-63.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.85 $42.85

$25.45 ฿837

68.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$94.3 ฿3,104

9.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 $118

$73.4 ฿2,416

60.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,103 $1,103

$490 ฿16.1K

125.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,518

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,933 $1,933

$894 ฿29.4K

116.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,325 $3,325

$1,955 ฿64.3K

70.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,336 $3,336

$1,477 ฿48.6K

125.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,216 $8,216

$602 ฿19.8K

1264.53%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.1

5.57

9.52%

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

Last update for Los Alamos, NM: September 1, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,103 in Los Alamos, NM versus $490 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 1265% higher in Los Alamos, NM, 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 $40.00 in Los Alamos, NM versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $336 vs $240 – 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

Los Alamos, NM vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Los Alamos, NM costs about 13% 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 $1,607 per month in Los Alamos, NM and $1,421 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 $40.00 in Los Alamos, NM and $20.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 40% more in Los Alamos, NM, 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 $947, than in Los Alamos, NM at $1,071. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Los Alamos, NM it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $947 versus $1,071 in Los Alamos, NM. 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, Los Alamos, NM makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.