Cost of Living Comparison Between Palm Desert, CA and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Palm Desert, CA and Chiang Mai

😐 Solo nomad: Palm Desert, CA is 109.5% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 268.2% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Palm Desert, CA is 104.4% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 212.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Palm Desert, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.92 $17.92
$2.02 ΰΈΏ65.3
787.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.3 $81.3
$18.78 ΰΈΏ608
333.12%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.7 $11.7
$7.67 ΰΈΏ248
52.54%
Cappuccino
$5.1 $5.1
$1.98 ΰΈΏ64.2
157.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.65 $3.65
$0.82 ΰΈΏ26.64
345.12%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.2 $2.2
$0.33 ΰΈΏ10.58
566.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.13 $7.13
$2.12 ΰΈΏ68.6
236.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.04 $8.04
$3.73 ΰΈΏ121
115.55%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Palm Desert, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.17 $1.17
$1.64 ΰΈΏ53.2
-28.66%
White Bread (500g)
$4.13 $4.13
$1.57 ΰΈΏ50.9
163.06%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.61 $4.61
$1.19 ΰΈΏ38.62
287.39%
Eggs
$3.9 $3.9
$1.98 ΰΈΏ64.1
96.97%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.15 $11.15
$15.99 ΰΈΏ517
-30.27%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.92 $15.92
$3.12 ΰΈΏ101
410.26%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.21 $15.21
$11.16 ΰΈΏ361
36.29%
Apples (1kg)
$4.49 $4.49
$2.76 ΰΈΏ89.2
62.68%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 $1.55
$1.22 ΰΈΏ39.5
27.05%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.87 $4.87
$1.71 ΰΈΏ55.4
184.80%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.68 $5.68
$1.55 ΰΈΏ50.2
266.45%
Potato (1kg)
$3.23 $3.23
$1.34 ΰΈΏ43.21
141.04%
Onion (1kg)
$2.97 $2.97
$1.21 ΰΈΏ39.23
145.45%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.05 $2.05
$0.72 ΰΈΏ23.2
184.72%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.19 $2.19
$0.53 ΰΈΏ17.05
313.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.21 $11.21
$4.72 ΰΈΏ153
137.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.31 $13.31
$18.39 ΰΈΏ595
-27.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.94 $1.94
$1.79 ΰΈΏ57.9
8.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.52 $3.52
$3.21 ΰΈΏ104
9.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Palm Desert, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.98 $1.98
$0.94 ΰΈΏ30.44
110.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$18.9 ΰΈΏ612
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.5 $6.5
$1.42 ΰΈΏ46.08
357.75%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.07 $2.07
$1.35 ΰΈΏ43.53
53.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.83 $28.83
$7.85 ΰΈΏ254
267.26%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 $1.09
$1.25 ΰΈΏ40.4
-12.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.3K $25.3K
$21.2K ΰΈΏ684.9K
19.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.4K $28.4K
$21.8K ΰΈΏ706.8K
30.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Palm Desert, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$158 $158
$70.6 ΰΈΏ2,285
123.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$54.1 $54.1
$13.72 ΰΈΏ444
294.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58 $58
$17.56 ΰΈΏ568
230.18%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Palm Desert, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.99 $42.99
$41.64 ΰΈΏ1,347
3.24%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.9 ΰΈΏ223
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.05 $13.05
$5.8 ΰΈΏ188
125.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Palm Desert, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,514 $1,514
$308 ΰΈΏ9,963
391.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.7K $23.7K
$14.7K ΰΈΏ475.8K
61.17%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Palm Desert, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.95 $46.95
$55.4 ΰΈΏ1,793
-15.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.73 $29.73
$26.4 ΰΈΏ854
12.61%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$60.6 $60.6
$85.1 ΰΈΏ2,755
-28.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$60.8 $60.8
$71.8 ΰΈΏ2,323
-15.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Palm Desert, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,512 $2,512
$434 ΰΈΏ14K
478.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,028 $2,028
$235 ΰΈΏ7,610
762.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,145 $3,145
$821 ΰΈΏ26.6K
283.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,960 $2,960
$498 ΰΈΏ16.1K
494.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,175 $3,175
$2,180 ΰΈΏ70.6K
45.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,404 $2,404
$1,543 ΰΈΏ49.9K
55.78%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Palm Desert, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,157 $5,157
$703 ΰΈΏ22.8K
633.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.64
5
32.80%

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

Last update for Palm Desert, CA: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

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