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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,605 per month in Modesto, CA vs $932 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,020 per month in Modesto, CA vs $1,399 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,435 per month in Modesto, CA vs $1,866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Modesto, CA costs about 179% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Modesto, CA sits 90% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 32% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.70 $14.70

$2.08 ฿69.5

606.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.9 $78.9

$19.61 ฿655

302.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.95 $8.95

$5.67 ฿189

57.85%

Cappuccino

$5.52 $5.52

$1.81 ฿60.3

204.97%

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

$2.66 $2.66

$0.77 ฿25.65

245.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 $1.59

$0.35 ฿11.53

354.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.92 $4.92

$2.21 ฿73.9

122.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.86 $6.86

$3.79 ฿127

81.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$2.05 ฿68.4

-48.78%

White Bread (500g)

$3.53 $3.53

$1.51 ฿50.6

133.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.18 $4.18

$1.40 ฿46.69

198.57%

Eggs

$5.82 $5.82

$2.26 ฿75.4

157.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.91 $12.91

$16.19 ฿540

-20.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.86 $13.86

$2.90 ฿96.7

377.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.54 $19.54

$9.42 ฿314

107.43%

Apples (1kg)

$5.19 $5.19

$2.68 ฿89.4

93.66%

Banana (1kg)

$2.02 $2.02

$1.09 ฿36.37

85.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.64 $5.64

$1.62 ฿54.0

248.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.65 $5.65

$1.46 ฿48.74

286.99%

Potato (1kg)

$3.46 $3.46

$1.28 ฿42.65

170.31%

Onion (1kg)

$2.98 $2.98

$1.06 ฿35.31

181.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.46 $2.46

$0.72 ฿23.94

241.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$0.53 ฿17.56

386.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.52 $11.52

$4.23 ฿141

172.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.80 $14.80

$18.29 ฿611

-19.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 $1.85

$1.63 ฿54.4

13.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.90 ฿96.8

15.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.02 $2.02

$0.88 ฿29.32

129.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.09 $40.09

$53.8 ฿1,795

-25.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.41 $3.41

$1.17 ฿39.14

191.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.93 $2.93

$0.58 ฿19.30

405.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.53 $30.53

$2.39 ฿79.6

1177.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.45 ฿48.41

-6.21%

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

$37.0K $37.0K

$21.0K ฿701.4K

76.17%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$26.4K ฿882.0K

-1.90%

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

$259 $259

$63.7 ฿2,125

306.35%

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

$48.45 $48.45

$12.89 ฿430

275.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.4 $69.4

$20.52 ฿685

238.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.60 $41.60

$39.02 ฿1,302

6.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.27 $15.27

$3.92 ฿131

289.54%

Cinema Ticket

$11.16 $11.16

$6.58 ฿220

69.60%

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

$1,794 $1,794

$784 ฿26.2K

128.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.1K $39.1K

$14.7K ฿489.8K

166.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.95 $48.95

$55.1 ฿1,840

-11.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.09 $39.09

$24.74 ฿826

58.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.4 $96.4

$94.1 ฿3,142

2.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 $122

$74.0 ฿2,469

64.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,465 $1,465

$490 ฿16.4K

198.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,307 $1,307

$288 ฿9,620

353.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,461 $2,461

$891 ฿29.8K

176.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,471 $2,471

$521 ฿17.4K

374.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,182 $3,182

$1,974 ฿65.9K

61.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,234 $3,234

$1,444 ฿48.2K

123.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,074 $4,074

$602 ฿20.1K

577.29%

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 Modesto, CA: September 13, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,465 in Modesto, CA 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 577% higher in Modesto, CA, 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 Modesto, CA versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $444 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

Modesto, CA vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Modesto, CA costs about 179% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,908 per month in Modesto, CA and $1,398 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 $1,794 per month in Modesto, CA and $784 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 84% more in Modesto, CA, 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 $932, than in Modesto, CA at $2,605. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Modesto, CA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $932 versus $2,605 in Modesto, CA. 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, Modesto, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.