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 $2,232 per month in Moses Lake, WA vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,236 per month in Moses Lake, WA vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,241 per month in Moses Lake, WA vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Moses Lake, WA costs about 158% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Moses Lake, WA sits 67% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.56 $16.56

$1.94 ฿63.5

753.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$71.7 $71.7

$18.64 ฿609

284.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.34 $7.34

$7.82 ฿255

-6.14%

Cappuccino

$4.09 $4.09

$1.95 ฿63.8

109.74%

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

$2.94 $2.94

$0.85 ฿27.77

245.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 $0.97

$0.35 ฿11.58

177.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.03 $4.03

$2.13 ฿69.6

89.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.91 $7.91

$3.73 ฿122

112.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$1.71 ฿56.0

-41.52%

White Bread (500g)

$4.88 $4.88

$1.63 ฿53.2

199.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.83 $3.83

$1.14 ฿37.15

235.96%

Eggs

$3.20 $3.20

$1.93 ฿63.1

65.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.99 $10.99

$16.21 ฿530

-32.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.08 $10.08

$3.12 ฿102

223.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.54 $13.54

$10.90 ฿356

24.22%

Apples (1kg)

$6.25 $6.25

$2.75 ฿90.0

127.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 $1.74

$1.21 ฿39.52

43.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.50 $5.50

$1.62 ฿53.0

239.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.96 $5.96

$1.59 ฿51.8

274.84%

Potato (1kg)

$3.16 $3.16

$1.40 ฿45.70

125.71%

Onion (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$1.17 ฿38.17

224.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.68 $2.68

$0.66 ฿21.60

306.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.05 $2.05

$0.53 ฿17.22

286.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.36 $11.36

$4.69 ฿153

142.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.30 $15.30

$18.66 ฿609

-18.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.80 ฿58.8

1.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.33 $3.33

$3.23 ฿106

3.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.03 $2.03

$0.90 ฿29.26

125.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.41 ฿45.91

75.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.29 ฿42.12

22.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.87 $29.87

$7.84 ฿256

280.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.07 $1.07

$1.27 ฿41.58

-15.75%

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

$31.6K $31.6K

$21.3K ฿694.9K

48.66%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$22.2K ฿725.4K

15.21%

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

$157 $157

$69.1 ฿2,256

127.02%

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

$59.7 $59.7

$14.08 ฿460

323.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.7 $74.7

$18.00 ฿588

314.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.31 $42.31

$41.06 ฿1,341

3.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$15.58 $15.58

$5.92 ฿193

163.18%

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

$247 $247

$299 ฿9,766

-17.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.9K $29.9K

$15.0K ฿488.3K

100.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.91 $49.91

$54.7 ฿1,787

-8.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 $24.95

$26.77 ฿874

-6.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$48.18 $48.18

$85.0 ฿2,776

-43.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.9 $79.9

$70.6 ฿2,306

13.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,281 $1,281

$428 ฿14.0K

199.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,118 $1,118

$237 ฿7,752

370.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,800 $1,800

$801 ฿26.2K

124.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,670 $1,670

$515 ฿16.8K

223.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,697 $2,697

$1,975 ฿64.5K

36.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,760 $2,760

$1,475 ฿48.2K

87.10%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$9,015 $9,015

$617 ฿20.2K

1360.02%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

28.40%

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

Last update for Moses Lake, WA: June 1, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,281 in Moses Lake, WA versus $428 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 1360% 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 $72.0 in Moses Lake, WA versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $403 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

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

Moses Lake, WA costs about 158% 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 $3,348 per month in Moses Lake, WA and $1,300 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 $72.0 in Moses Lake, WA and $19.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 64% 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 $866, than in Moses Lake, WA at $2,232. 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 $866 versus $2,232 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.