Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Robinson, IL and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $935 a month against $2,396 in Robinson, IL, rent and utilities included – about $17,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Robinson, IL, United States
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Robinson, IL
🇺🇸 United States
$2,396
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$935
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Robinson, IL 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 Robinson, IL and in Chiang Mai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,396 per month in Robinson, IL vs $935 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Robinson, IL $2,396
  • Chiang Mai $935

A couple spends around $3,431 per month in Robinson, IL vs $1,467 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Robinson, IL $3,431
  • Chiang Mai $1,467

A family of three spends $4,466 per month in Robinson, IL vs $1,999 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Robinson, IL $4,466
  • Chiang Mai $1,999

Robinson, IL costs about 156% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Robinson, IL sits 77% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 31% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Robinson, IL
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.20 $11.20
$2.13 ฿71.7
425.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.7 $55.7
$18.62 ฿625
199.30%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.23 $9.23
$5.60 ฿188
64.82%
Cappuccino
$5.02 $5.02
$1.66 ฿55.9
202.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20 $2.20
$0.65 ฿21.73
238.46%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 $1.56
$0.30 ฿10.24
420.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.88 $5.88
$2.32 ฿78.0
153.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.05 $7.05
$3.67 ฿123
92.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Robinson, IL
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.75 $0.75
$2.02 ฿67.7
-62.87%
White Bread (500g)
$2.45 $2.45
$1.41 ฿47.29
73.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.15 $5.15
$1.39 ฿46.75
270.50%
Eggs
$3.05 $3.05
$2.37 ฿79.5
28.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.47 $13.47
$16.52 ฿555
-18.46%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.02 $7.02
$2.67 ฿89.7
162.92%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.68 $5.68
$9.02 ฿303
-37.03%
Apples (1kg)
$3.84 $3.84
$2.40 ฿80.6
60.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.34 $1.34
$1.04 ฿34.98
28.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.60 $3.60
$1.66 ฿55.7
116.87%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.31 $4.31
$1.56 ฿52.4
176.28%
Potato (1kg)
$2.67 $2.67
$1.24 ฿41.57
115.32%
Onion (1kg)
$2.58 $2.58
$1.09 ฿36.50
136.70%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.22 $2.22
$0.76 ฿25.59
192.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.36 $2.36
$0.51 ฿17.27
362.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.97 $8.97
$4.12 ฿138
117.72%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.77 $15.77
$17.93 ฿602
-12.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.86 $2.86
$1.62 ฿54.5
76.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.89 $3.89
$2.82 ฿94.8
37.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Robinson, IL
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.15 $2.15
$0.93 ฿31.39
131.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$59.9 $59.9
$52.9 ฿1,777
13.16%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.78 $2.78
$1.18 ฿39.52
135.59%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.37 $1.37
$0.17 ฿5.76
705.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.28 $18.28
$1.81 ฿60.9
909.94%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 $1.02
$1.47 ฿49.47
-30.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.5K $33.5K
$21.0K ฿705.8K
59.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K $26.1K
$26.5K ฿890.7K
-1.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Robinson, IL
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$182 $182
$62.6 ฿2,101
190.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.3 $58.3
$11.60 ฿390
402.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.5 $67.5
$20.30 ฿682
232.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Robinson, IL
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.23 $41.23
$37.88 ฿1,272
8.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.70 ฿124
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.15 $11.15
$6.51 ฿219
71.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Robinson, IL
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$392 $392
$727 ฿24.4K
-46.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.9K $23.9K
$16.6K ฿556.7K
44.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Robinson, IL
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.48 $49.48
$53.5 ฿1,798
-7.58%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.03 $35.03
$24.80 ฿833
41.25%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$61.2 $61.2
$90.4 ฿3,036
-32.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.6 $79.6
$72.0 ฿2,418
10.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Robinson, IL
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$583 $583
$481 ฿16.2K
21.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,285 $1,285
$310 ฿10.4K
314.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,570 $2,570
$1,058 ฿35.5K
142.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,130 $2,130
$659 ฿22.1K
223.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,845 $2,845
$2,418 ฿81.2K
17.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,051 $2,051
$1,609 ฿54.0K
27.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Robinson, IL
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,914 $4,914
$595 ฿20.0K
726.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.4
5.57
14.90%

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

Last update for Robinson, IL: November 2, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Robinson, IL
$1.3K
Chiang Mai
$310 75.9% $975
Groceries & Markets
Robinson, IL
$325
Chiang Mai
$237 27.1% $88
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Robinson, IL
$308
Chiang Mai
$94 69.3% $213
Eating Out
Robinson, IL
$236
Chiang Mai
$77 67.6% $159
Clothing & Footwear
Robinson, IL
$101
Chiang Mai
$108 6.9% $6.9
Getting Around
Robinson, IL
$78
Chiang Mai
$59 24.8% $19
Sport & Entertainment
Robinson, IL
$64
Chiang Mai
$51 19.9% $13

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $583 in Robinson, IL versus $481 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 Robinson, IL are about 8.3 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $56 in Robinson, IL versus $19 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $325 vs $237 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Robinson, IL
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
04:01 4:01 AM
17:01 5:01 PM
13 h ahead of Robinson, IL
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
12,443
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 5, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 33.59 THB (100 THB = 2.98 USD). 1 EUR = 37.75 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Robinson, IL Chiang Mai 13,550 km ≈ 17 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Robinson, IL
  • 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
Robinson, IL vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Robinson, IL or Chiang Mai?
Robinson, IL costs about 156% 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 Robinson, IL and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,594 per month in Robinson, IL 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, Robinson, IL or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $481 there versus $583 in Robinson, IL.
How do childcare costs compare in Robinson, IL and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $392 per month in Robinson, IL and $727 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 Robinson, IL or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 37% more in Robinson, IL, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $800/month in Robinson, IL or in Chiang Mai?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,396 in Robinson, IL and $935 in Chiang Mai. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Robinson, IL or Chiang Mai?
It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $935 in Chiang Mai to $2,396 in Robinson, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How safe is Robinson, IL 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 Robinson, IL or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Robinson, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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