Cost of Living Comparison Between Madison, WI and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Madison, WI and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,864 per month in Madison, WI vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,134 per month in Madison, WI vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,405 per month in Madison, WI vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Madison, WI costs about 236% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Madison, WI sits 114% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.24 $15.24

$1.96 ฿64.0

677.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.3 $76.3

$18.81 ฿615

305.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.92 $10.92

$7.92 ฿259

37.88%

Cappuccino

$5.24 $5.24

$1.91 ฿62.6

174.35%

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

$2.61 $2.61

$0.84 ฿27.41

210.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$0.35 ฿11.51

568.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.18 $6.18

$2.21 ฿72.1

179.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.82 $6.82

$3.80 ฿124

79.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$1.64 ฿53.5

-45.73%

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 $3.72

$1.62 ฿53.1

129.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.10 $5.10

$1.18 ฿38.62

332.20%

Eggs

$3.98 $3.98

$2.01 ฿65.8

98.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.79 $13.79

$15.89 ฿520

-13.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.39 $13.39

$3.01 ฿98.5

344.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.57 $16.57

$10.77 ฿352

53.85%

Apples (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$2.61 ฿85.5

70.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.22 ฿39.88

24.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.86 $5.86

$1.70 ฿55.7

244.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.66 $4.66

$1.58 ฿51.5

194.94%

Potato (1kg)

$2.61 $2.61

$1.32 ฿43.14

97.73%

Onion (1kg)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.17 ฿38.23

145.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.03 $2.03

$0.67 ฿21.98

202.99%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 $1.95

$0.56 ฿18.32

248.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.96 $9.96

$4.53 ฿148

119.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.75 $15.75

$18.20 ฿595

-13.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$1.83 ฿60.0

24.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.83 $4.83

$3.23 ฿106

49.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.96 $1.96

$0.89 ฿29.00

120.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$63.1 $63.1

$19.38 ฿634

225.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.52 $4.52

$1.35 ฿44.20

234.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.23 $2.23

$1.35 ฿44.05

65.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.40 $42.40

$8.25 ฿270

413.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 $0.85

$1.27 ฿41.64

-33.07%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$21.2K ฿691.8K

19.99%

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

$25.8K $25.8K

$22.5K ฿735.3K

14.61%

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

$216 $216

$70.2 ฿2,294

207.44%

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

$50.2 $50.2

$13.77 ฿450

264.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.4 $74.4

$17.60 ฿575

322.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.6 $63.6

$41.57 ฿1,360

53.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.07 $30.07

$6.60 ฿216

355.61%

Cinema Ticket

$14.83 $14.83

$5.78 ฿189

156.57%

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

$1,656 $1,656

$306 ฿10.0K

440.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.0K $25.0K

$14.8K ฿484.8K

68.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.7 $67.7

$54.4 ฿1,778

24.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.64 $47.64

$26.14 ฿855

82.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.4 $99.4

$84.5 ฿2,764

17.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$134 $134

$69.4 ฿2,270

93.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,701 $1,701

$424 ฿13.9K

301.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,438 $1,438

$238 ฿7,788

503.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,068 $3,068

$825 ฿27.0K

272.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,446 $2,446

$515 ฿16.8K

374.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,392 $4,392

$2,049 ฿67.0K

114.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,563 $2,563

$1,523 ฿49.8K

68.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,331 $4,331

$635 ฿20.8K

581.82%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.55

31.00%

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

Last update for Madison, WI: April 27, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,701 in Madison, WI 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 582% higher in Madison, WI, 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 $76.0 in Madison, WI versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $416 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

Madison, WI vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Madison, WI costs about 236% 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 $4,296 per month in Madison, WI 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.

Kindergarten costs $1,656 per month in Madison, WI and $306 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 71% more in Madison, WI, 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 Madison, WI at $2,864. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Madison, WI it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $2,864 in Madison, WI. 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, Madison, WI makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.