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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,565 per month in Manitowoc, WI vs $849 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,834 per month in Manitowoc, WI vs $1,341 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,102 per month in Manitowoc, WI vs $1,834 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Manitowoc, WI costs about 202% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Manitowoc, WI sits 92% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 37% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.36 $20.36

$2.04 ฿65.9

898.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.7 $98.7

$18.17 ฿588

443.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.91 $11.91

$7.54 ฿244

57.96%

Cappuccino

$5.65 $5.65

$1.92 ฿62.1

194.27%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$0.79 ฿25.44

293.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$0.32 ฿10.46

668.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.14 $7.14

$2.14 ฿69.2

233.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$3.61 ฿117

127.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$1.66 ฿53.8

-50.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.02 $3.02

$1.60 ฿51.8

88.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$1.14 ฿36.72

384.21%

Eggs

$1.55 $1.55

$1.95 ฿62.9

-20.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.17 $13.17

$16.17 ฿523

-18.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.80 $5.80

$3.11 ฿101

86.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.47 $15.47

$10.97 ฿355

41.02%

Apples (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$2.72 ฿88.1

97.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.18 ฿38.31

44.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$1.64 ฿53.1

167.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.34 $4.34

$1.60 ฿51.9

171.25%

Potato (1kg)

$2.55 $2.55

$1.39 ฿44.89

83.45%

Onion (1kg)

$2.83 $2.83

$1.20 ฿38.78

135.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.47 $2.47

$0.67 ฿21.54

268.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.69 $2.69

$0.56 ฿18.05

380.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.15 $10.15

$4.74 ฿153

114.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.99 $9.99

$18.77 ฿607

-46.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.84 ฿59.7

34.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 $3.74

$3.23 ฿105

15.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.05 $2.05

$0.93 ฿30.19

120.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿605

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.22 $3.22

$1.37 ฿44.44

135.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.41 $1.41

$1.31 ฿42.27

7.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.33 $25.33

$8.09 ฿262

213.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 $0.94

$1.23 ฿39.95

-23.58%

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

$32.6K $32.6K

$21.4K ฿691.9K

52.44%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$22.4K ฿723.4K

17.73%

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

$119 $119

$69.2 ฿2,239

72.58%

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

$63.8 $63.8

$14.09 ฿456

352.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.2 $66.2

$17.81 ฿576

271.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.54 $42.54

$40.93 ฿1,324

3.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.62 ฿214

Cinema Ticket

$11.88 $11.88

$5.71 ฿185

108.06%

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

$2,090 $2,090

$302 ฿9,766

592.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.6K $39.6K

$14.9K ฿481.8K

166.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.7 $64.7

$56.3 ฿1,820

14.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 $51.2

$26.68 ฿863

92.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.4 $97.4

$85.4 ฿2,761

14.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$70.6 ฿2,285

103.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,579 $1,579

$427 ฿13.8K

269.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,349 $1,349

$237 ฿7,677

468.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,615 $2,615

$807 ฿26.1K

224.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,261 $2,261

$501 ฿16.2K

351.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,647 $2,647

$2,006 ฿64.9K

32.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,111 $2,111

$1,505 ฿48.7K

40.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,442 $3,442

$634 ฿20.5K

442.67%

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 Manitowoc, WI: May 9, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,579 in Manitowoc, WI versus $427 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 443% higher in Manitowoc, 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 $99.0 in Manitowoc, WI versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $353 vs $246 – 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

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

Manitowoc, WI costs about 202% 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 $3,848 per month in Manitowoc, WI and $1,273 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 $99.0 in Manitowoc, WI and $18.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 43% more in Manitowoc, 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 $849, than in Manitowoc, WI at $2,565. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Manitowoc, WI it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $849 versus $2,565 in Manitowoc, 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, Manitowoc, WI makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.