Cost of Living Comparison Between Moses Lake, WA and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Moses Lake, WA and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,300 per month in Moses Lake, WA vs $932 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,493 per month in Moses Lake, WA vs $1,399 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,686 per month in Moses Lake, WA vs $1,866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Moses Lake, WA costs about 147% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Moses Lake, WA sits 68% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 32% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.67 $17.67

$2.08 ฿69.2

749.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.6 $79.6

$19.61 ฿652

305.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.47 $12.47

$5.67 ฿189

119.93%

Cappuccino

$4.58 $4.58

$1.81 ฿60.0

153.04%

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

$2.89 $2.89

$0.77 ฿25.55

275.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$0.35 ฿11.48

622.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.52 $4.52

$2.21 ฿73.6

104.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.12 $8.12

$3.79 ฿126

114.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.75 $0.75

$2.05 ฿68.1

-63.41%

White Bread (500g)

$3.81 $3.81

$1.51 ฿50.4

152.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$1.40 ฿46.51

190.00%

Eggs

$3.39 $3.39

$2.26 ฿75.1

50.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.96 $8.96

$16.19 ฿538

-44.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.43 $11.43

$2.90 ฿96.3

294.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.41 $13.41

$9.42 ฿313

42.36%

Apples (1kg)

$5.92 $5.92

$2.68 ฿89.1

120.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 $1.68

$1.09 ฿36.23

54.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.43 $5.43

$1.62 ฿53.8

235.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.36 $5.36

$1.46 ฿48.55

267.12%

Potato (1kg)

$3.70 $3.70

$1.28 ฿42.48

189.06%

Onion (1kg)

$3.32 $3.32

$1.06 ฿35.17

213.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.80 $2.80

$0.72 ฿23.85

288.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.16 $2.16

$0.53 ฿17.49

307.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.70 $11.70

$4.23 ฿141

176.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.79 $14.79

$18.29 ฿608

-19.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.87 $1.87

$1.63 ฿54.2

14.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.16 $4.16

$2.90 ฿96.5

43.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.02 $2.02

$0.88 ฿29.20

129.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,788

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.52 $2.52

$1.17 ฿38.99

115.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.56 $1.56

$0.58 ฿19.22

168.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.13 $30.13

$2.39 ฿79.3

1160.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 $1.16

$1.45 ฿48.22

-20.00%

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

$31.6K $31.6K

$21.0K ฿698.6K

50.23%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$26.4K ฿878.6K

-1.90%

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

$155 $155

$63.7 ฿2,116

143.13%

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

$69.5 $69.5

$12.89 ฿429

439.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$78.0 $78.0

$20.52 ฿682

279.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.41 $42.41

$39.02 ฿1,297

8.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$11.80 $11.80

$6.58 ฿219

79.33%

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

$1,135 $1,135

$784 ฿26.1K

44.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.6K $31.6K

$14.7K ฿487.9K

115.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.8 $52.8

$55.1 ฿1,833

-4.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.09 $25.09

$24.74 ฿823

1.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$47.43 $47.43

$94.1 ฿3,130

-49.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.5 $81.5

$74.0 ฿2,459

10.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,499 $1,499

$490 ฿16.3K

205.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,153 $1,153

$288 ฿9,582

300.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,319 $2,319

$891 ฿29.6K

160.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,000 $2,000

$521 ฿17.3K

283.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,612 $2,612

$1,974 ฿65.6K

32.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,801 $2,801

$1,444 ฿48.0K

93.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$9,065 $9,065

$602 ฿20.0K

1406.82%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

5.57

15.80%

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

Last update for Moses Lake, WA: September 14, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,499 in Moses Lake, WA 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 1407% higher in Moses Lake, WA, 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 $80.0 in Moses Lake, WA versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $390 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

Moses Lake, WA vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Moses Lake, WA costs about 147% 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 $3,450 per month in Moses Lake, WA 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $80.0 in Moses Lake, WA and $20.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 62% more in Moses Lake, WA, 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 Moses Lake, WA at $2,300. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Moses Lake, WA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $932 versus $2,300 in Moses Lake, WA. 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, Moses Lake, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.