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

😐 Solo nomad: Monterey, CA is 84.8% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 277.2% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Monterey, CA is 132.6% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 255.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Monterey, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.22 $16.22
$2.02 ฿65.3
702.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.9 $64.9
$18.78 ฿608
245.47%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.45 $9.45
$7.67 ฿248
23.21%
Cappuccino
$4.48 $4.48
$1.98 ฿64.2
126.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.16 $3.16
$0.82 ฿26.64
285.37%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63 $1.63
$0.33 ฿10.58
393.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.86 $5.86
$2.12 ฿68.6
176.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.44 $4.44
$3.73 ฿121
19.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Monterey, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.34 $1.34
$1.64 ฿53.2
-18.29%
White Bread (500g)
$3.41 $3.41
$1.57 ฿50.9
117.20%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.37 $4.37
$1.19 ฿38.62
267.23%
Eggs
$4 $4
$1.98 ฿64.1
102.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.38 $9.38
$15.99 ฿517
-41.34%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$17.66 $17.66
$3.12 ฿101
466.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.04 $14.04
$11.16 ฿361
25.81%
Apples (1kg)
$3.85 $3.85
$2.76 ฿89.2
39.49%
Banana (1kg)
$1.15 $1.15
$1.22 ฿39.5
-5.74%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.46 $2.46
$1.71 ฿55.4
43.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.23 $2.23
$1.55 ฿50.2
43.87%
Potato (1kg)
$1.92 $1.92
$1.34 ฿43.21
43.28%
Onion (1kg)
$2.23 $2.23
$1.21 ฿39.23
84.30%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.83 $1.83
$0.72 ฿23.2
154.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.94 $1.94
$0.53 ฿17.05
266.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.16 $12.16
$4.72 ฿153
157.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.28 $17.28
$18.39 ฿595
-6.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.2 $2.2
$1.79 ฿57.9
22.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44 $2.44
$3.21 ฿104
-23.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Monterey, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.04 $2.04
$0.94 ฿30.44
117.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53 $53
$18.9 ฿612
180.21%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.58 $1.58
$1.42 ฿46.08
11.27%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.89 $0.89
$1.35 ฿43.53
-34.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.75 $28.75
$7.85 ฿254
266.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.22 $1.22
$1.25 ฿40.4
-2.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.2K $24.2K
$21.2K ฿684.9K
14.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.2K $24.2K
$21.8K ฿706.8K
10.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Monterey, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$70.6 ฿2,285
165.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.7 $51.7
$13.72 ฿444
277.04%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.8 $61.8
$17.56 ฿568
252.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Monterey, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.27 $43.27
$41.64 ฿1,347
3.91%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.52 $10.52
$6.9 ฿223
52.46%
Cinema Ticket
$12.3 $12.3
$5.8 ฿188
112.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Monterey, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$570 $570
$308 ฿9,963
85.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.5K $12.5K
$14.7K ฿475.8K
-14.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Monterey, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.4 $68.4
$55.4 ฿1,793
23.52%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$119 $119
$26.4 ฿854
349.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.5 $98.5
$85.1 ฿2,755
15.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$202 $202
$71.8 ฿2,323
181.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Monterey, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,323 $2,323
$434 ฿14K
435.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,004 $2,004
$235 ฿7,610
752.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,623 $3,623
$821 ฿26.6K
341.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,664 $3,664
$498 ฿16.1K
635.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,809 $7,809
$2,180 ฿70.6K
258.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,920 $5,920
$1,543 ฿49.9K
283.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Monterey, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,380 $4,380
$703 ฿22.8K
522.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.4
5
28.00%

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

Last update for Monterey, CA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

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