Cost of Living Comparison Between Pullman, WA and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Pullman, WA and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,035 per month in Pullman, WA vs $950 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,137 per month in Pullman, WA vs $1,430 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,240 per month in Pullman, WA vs $1,909 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Pullman, WA costs about 114% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Pullman, WA sits 48% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 31% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.52 $16.52

$2.10 ฿69.3

686.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.1 $74.1

$19.84 ฿656

273.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.55 $8.55

$5.79 ฿191

47.67%

Cappuccino

$4.98 $4.98

$1.83 ฿60.4

172.13%

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

$2.15 $2.15

$0.78 ฿25.61

175.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.88 $1.88

$0.31 ฿10.37

506.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.84 $6.84

$2.34 ฿77.2

192.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.41 $5.41

$3.70 ฿122

46.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.93 $0.93

$2.03 ฿67.1

-54.19%

White Bread (500g)

$3.27 $3.27

$1.60 ฿52.7

104.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.21 $2.21

$1.42 ฿46.75

55.63%

Eggs

$5.38 $5.38

$2.18 ฿71.9

146.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.97 $15.97

$15.91 ฿526

0.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.60 $13.60

$3.07 ฿102

343.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.72 $16.72

$9.87 ฿326

69.40%

Apples (1kg)

$4.17 $4.17

$2.63 ฿86.8

58.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.10 ฿36.19

30.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.29 $3.29

$1.63 ฿53.8

101.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.59 $5.59

$1.53 ฿50.6

265.36%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$1.24 ฿41.13

106.45%

Onion (1kg)

$3.03 $3.03

$1.13 ฿37.37

168.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.96 $1.96

$0.74 ฿24.38

164.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.90 $1.90

$0.50 ฿16.48

280.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.07 $12.07

$4.28 ฿141

182.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.16 $14.16

$17.97 ฿594

-21.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 $1.83

$1.70 ฿56.1

7.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.75 $4.75

$2.90 ฿95.7

63.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 $0.98

$0.94 ฿31.13

4.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.15 $30.15

$55.3 ฿1,827

-45.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.01 $4.01

$1.23 ฿40.76

226.02%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.76 $1.76

$0.53 ฿17.66

232.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$40.03 $40.03

$2.40 ฿79.3

1567.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 $1.16

$1.44 ฿47.55

-19.44%

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

$20.1K $20.1K

$21.2K ฿700.2K

-5.24%

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

$20.4K $20.4K

$27.3K ฿902.1K

-25.36%

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

$107 $107

$64.9 ฿2,145

65.29%

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

$75.8 $75.8

$13.35 ฿441

467.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.12 $48.12

$20.83 ฿688

131.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.48 $29.48

$40.42 ฿1,336

-27.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.09 $10.09

$3.95 ฿131

155.44%

Cinema Ticket

$15.21 $15.21

$6.71 ฿222

126.68%

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

$1,195 $1,195

$787 ฿26.0K

51.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.7K $21.7K

$15.1K ฿499.6K

43.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.7 $52.7

$56.2 ฿1,858

-6.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.32 $22.32

$24.95 ฿824

-10.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$92.7 ฿3,063

9.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$75.1 ฿2,482

91.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,197 $1,197

$484 ฿16.0K

147.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$834 $834

$287 ฿9,491

190.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,947 $1,947

$910 ฿30.1K

114.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,513 $1,513

$531 ฿17.5K

185.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,231 $2,231

$1,980 ฿65.4K

12.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,186 $2,186

$1,451 ฿47.9K

50.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,546 $3,546

$605 ฿20.0K

485.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.23

5.57

11.85%

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

Last update for Pullman, WA: September 7, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,197 in Pullman, WA versus $484 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 486% higher in Pullman, 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 $74.0 in Pullman, WA versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $400 vs $242 – 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

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

Pullman, WA costs about 114% 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 $3,052 per month in Pullman, WA and $1,426 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 $1,195 per month in Pullman, WA and $787 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 65% more in Pullman, 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 $950, than in Pullman, WA at $2,035. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Pullman, WA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $950 versus $2,035 in Pullman, 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, Pullman, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.