Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Redmond, WA and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $936 a month against $3,776 in Redmond, WA, rent and utilities included – about $34,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Redmond, WA, United States
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Redmond, WA
🇺🇸 United States
$3,776
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$936
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Redmond, WA and in Chiang Mai

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Redmond, WA and in Chiang Mai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,776 per month in Redmond, WA vs $936 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Redmond, WA $3,776
  • Chiang Mai $936

A couple spends around $5,219 per month in Redmond, WA vs $1,457 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Redmond, WA $5,219
  • Chiang Mai $1,457

A family of three spends $6,662 per month in Redmond, WA vs $1,979 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Redmond, WA $6,662
  • Chiang Mai $1,979

Redmond, WA costs about 304% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Redmond, WA sits 177% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 31% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Redmond, WA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.56 $24.56
$2.24 ฿75.6
996.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.3 $80.3
$19.00 ฿641
322.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.20 $12.20
$5.55 ฿187
119.82%
Cappuccino
$5.65 $5.65
$1.67 ฿56.5
238.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 $3.20
$0.64 ฿21.54
400.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.56 $2.56
$0.31 ฿10.31
725.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.08 $7.08
$2.36 ฿79.5
200.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.85 $6.85
$3.66 ฿124
87.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Redmond, WA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.15 $1.15
$1.95 ฿65.7
-41.03%
White Bread (500g)
$5.06 $5.06
$1.44 ฿48.46
251.39%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.89 $5.89
$1.33 ฿45.03
342.86%
Eggs
$5.60 $5.60
$2.28 ฿77.1
145.61%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.10 $16.10
$16.45 ฿555
-2.13%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.74 $15.74
$2.78 ฿93.9
466.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$23.47 $23.47
$9.31 ฿314
152.09%
Apples (1kg)
$5.98 $5.98
$2.35 ฿79.4
154.47%
Banana (1kg)
$1.95 $1.95
$0.97 ฿32.79
101.03%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.09 $4.09
$1.60 ฿53.9
155.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.69 $4.69
$1.50 ฿50.6
212.67%
Potato (1kg)
$2.66 $2.66
$1.28 ฿43.11
107.81%
Onion (1kg)
$3.04 $3.04
$1.10 ฿37.18
176.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.79 $1.79
$0.71 ฿23.82
152.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$3.21 $3.21
$0.49 ฿16.36
555.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.36 $12.36
$4.14 ฿140
198.55%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.71 $14.71
$17.52 ฿591
-16.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 $1.76
$1.61 ฿54.5
9.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.92 $4.92
$2.78 ฿93.9
76.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Redmond, WA
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.05 $3.05
$0.87 ฿29.30
250.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$99.7 $99.7
$54.1 ฿1,825
84.40%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.63 $2.63
$1.16 ฿39.04
126.72%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.73 $1.73
$0.53 ฿17.80
226.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.01 $30.01
$2.42 ฿81.7
1140.08%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.44 $1.44
$1.45 ฿48.88
-0.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3K $28.3K
$21.1K ฿710.5K
34.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K $27.0K
$26.9K ฿909.0K
0.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Redmond, WA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$305 $305
$62.2 ฿2,098
390.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$62.9 $62.9
$12.17 ฿411
417.01%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$85.5 $85.5
$20.12 ฿679
324.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Redmond, WA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$59.5 $59.5
$37.31 ฿1,259
59.42%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$41.28 $41.28
$3.77 ฿127
994.96%
Cinema Ticket
$17.87 $17.87
$6.49 ฿219
175.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Redmond, WA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,697 $2,697
$736 ฿24.8K
266.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$30.5K $30.5K
$14.8K ฿498.2K
106.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Redmond, WA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.5 $68.5
$53.4 ฿1,801
28.41%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.5 $55.5
$24.64 ฿831
125.32%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.7 $90.7
$91.5 ฿3,087
-0.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$127 $127
$71.9 ฿2,427
76.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Redmond, WA
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,613 $2,613
$482 ฿16.3K
441.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,082 $2,082
$309 ฿10.4K
574.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,162 $4,162
$1,006 ฿33.9K
313.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,020 $3,020
$633 ฿21.4K
376.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,289 $6,289
$2,363 ฿79.7K
166.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,748 $5,748
$1,589 ฿53.6K
261.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Redmond, WA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$9,391 $9,391
$590 ฿19.9K
1492.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.64
5.57
19.21%

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

Last update for Redmond, WA: October 26, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Redmond, WA
$2.1K
Chiang Mai
$309 85.2% $1.8K
Groceries & Markets
Redmond, WA
$495
Chiang Mai
$234 52.6% $260
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Redmond, WA
$453
Chiang Mai
$94 79.2% $359
Eating Out
Redmond, WA
$373
Chiang Mai
$78 79.2% $295
Clothing & Footwear
Redmond, WA
$154
Chiang Mai
$109 29.4% $45
Getting Around
Redmond, WA
$123
Chiang Mai
$61 50.2% $62
Sport & Entertainment
Redmond, WA
$95
Chiang Mai
$50 47.2% $45

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,613 in Redmond, WA versus $482 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 in Redmond, WA are about 16 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $80 in Redmond, WA versus $19 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $495 vs $234 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Redmond, WA
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
06:59 6:59 AM
21:59 9:59 PM
15 h ahead of Redmond, WA
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
73,256
127,240
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.896 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 33.74 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.67 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Redmond, WA Chiang Mai 11,570 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Redmond, WA
  • Chiang Mai

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Redmond, WA vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Redmond, WA or Chiang Mai?
Redmond, WA costs about 304% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Redmond, WA and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,663 per month in Redmond, WA and $1,403 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Redmond, WA or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $482 there versus $2,613 in Redmond, WA.
How do childcare costs compare in Redmond, WA and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $2,697 per month in Redmond, WA and $736 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Redmond, WA or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 111% more in Redmond, WA, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $800/month in Redmond, WA or in Chiang Mai?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,776 in Redmond, WA and $936 in Chiang Mai. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Redmond, WA or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $936 versus $3,776 in Redmond, WA. Both appeal to remote workers, and the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Redmond, WA compared to Chiang Mai?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
Should I move to Redmond, WA or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Redmond, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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