Cost of Living Comparison Between Merced, CA and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Merced, CA and Chiang Mai

😐 Solo nomad: Merced, CA is 106.3% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 182.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Merced, CA is 104.2% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 158.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Merced, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.09 $20.09
$1.94 ฿62.8
935.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.35 $40.35
$18.36 ฿594
119.77%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.62 $11.62
$7.78 ฿252
49.36%
Cappuccino
$5.93 $5.93
$1.96 ฿63.3
202.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07 $3.07
$0.83 ฿27.01
269.88%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 $1.94
$0.35 ฿11.44
454.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$9.22 $9.22
$2.1 ฿67.9
339.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.95 $9.95
$3.75 ฿121
165.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Merced, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.18 $1.18
$1.69 ฿54.8
-30.18%
White Bread (500g)
$2.84 $2.84
$1.63 ฿52.6
74.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.17 $3.17
$1.2 ฿38.83
164.17%
Eggs
$4.89 $4.89
$1.99 ฿64.5
145.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.16 $11.16
$15.97 ฿517
-30.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.57 $15.57
$3.14 ฿102
395.86%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.37 $17.37
$10.94 ฿354
58.78%
Apples (1kg)
$5.95 $5.95
$2.68 ฿86.6
122.01%
Banana (1kg)
$2.5 $2.5
$1.17 ฿37.97
113.68%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.49 $1.49
$1.63 ฿52.6
-8.59%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.37 $4.37
$1.54 ฿49.78
183.77%
Potato (1kg)
$2.11 $2.11
$1.34 ฿43.23
57.46%
Onion (1kg)
$3.3 $3.3
$1.17 ฿37.78
182.05%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.97 $0.97
$0.67 ฿21.52
44.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.86 $2.86
$0.56 ฿18.09
410.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.83 $9.83
$4.57 ฿148
115.10%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.17 $18.17
$18.42 ฿596
-1.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.36 $2.36
$1.79 ฿57.9
31.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.35 $3.35
$3.27 ฿106
2.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Merced, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.47 $1.47
$0.96 ฿31.19
53.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$59 $59
$18.98 ฿614
211.06%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.01 $3.01
$1.35 ฿43.78
122.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.63 $1.63
$1.3 ฿42.14
25.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$27.1 $27.1
$8.24 ฿267
228.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 $1.24
$1.24 ฿39.97
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.5K $30.5K
$21.6K ฿699.5K
41.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K $26.4K
$21.8K ฿706.1K
21.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Merced, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$280 $280
$70.2 ฿2,272
298.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.62 $35.62
$14.18 ฿459
151.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.1 $68.1
$17.88 ฿579
280.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Merced, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.71 $33.71
$42.29 ฿1,369
-20.29%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.79 $13.79
$6.73 ฿218
104.90%
Cinema Ticket
$15.7 $15.7
$5.7 ฿185
175.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Merced, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,959 $1,959
$308 ฿9,969
535.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$26.3K $26.3K
$15.1K ฿487.6K
74.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Merced, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.7 $52.7
$56.3 ฿1,822
-6.34%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.79 $44.79
$26.3 ฿851
70.30%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.6 $87.6
$84.7 ฿2,742
3.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$139 $139
$72.2 ฿2,336
92.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Merced, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,593 $1,593
$434 ฿14.1K
266.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,087 $1,087
$243 ฿7,854
347.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,989 $1,989
$807 ฿26.1K
146.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,920 $1,920
$499 ฿16.2K
284.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,963 $2,963
$2,195 ฿71K
34.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,873 $2,873
$1,560 ฿50.5K
84.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Merced, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,483 $3,483
$683 ฿22.1K
409.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.36
5
27.20%

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

Last update for Merced, CA: November 5, 2025

Last update for Chiang Mai: November 3, 2025

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