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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,694 per month in Spokane, WA vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,037 per month in Spokane, WA vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,380 per month in Spokane, WA vs $1,855 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Spokane, WA costs about 210% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Spokane, WA sits 100% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.05 $24.05

$1.98 ฿64.3

1114.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.8 $73.8

$18.80 ฿612

292.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.98 $12.98

$7.75 ฿252

67.48%

Cappuccino

$4.70 $4.70

$1.92 ฿62.5

144.79%

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

$2.39 $2.39

$0.79 ฿25.79

202.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$0.36 ฿11.62

536.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.64 $6.64

$2.21 ฿72.1

200.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.93 $5.93

$3.66 ฿119

62.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.65 ฿53.8

-40.61%

White Bread (500g)

$2.95 $2.95

$1.63 ฿53.2

80.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.98 $4.98

$1.19 ฿38.86

318.49%

Eggs

$4.57 $4.57

$2.00 ฿65.1

128.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.70 $16.70

$15.98 ฿520

4.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.46 $15.46

$3.03 ฿98.5

410.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.06 $16.06

$10.86 ฿354

47.88%

Apples (1kg)

$4.65 $4.65

$2.76 ฿90.0

68.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.18 ฿38.42

54.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.92 $4.92

$1.64 ฿53.5

200.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.57 $5.57

$1.52 ฿49.51

266.45%

Potato (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$1.38 ฿45.10

148.55%

Onion (1kg)

$2.61 $2.61

$1.19 ฿38.84

119.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.98 $1.98

$0.70 ฿22.86

182.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$0.56 ฿18.13

321.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.52 $11.52

$4.58 ฿149

151.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.26 $14.26

$16.56 ฿539

-13.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.89 $1.89

$1.83 ฿59.5

3.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.22 $5.22

$3.20 ฿104

63.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.95 $1.95

$0.88 ฿28.56

121.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$59.8 $59.8

$18.72 ฿610

219.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.12 $5.12

$1.36 ฿44.16

276.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.34 ฿43.65

32.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$39.38 $39.38

$7.84 ฿256

402.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.23 ฿39.92

-8.13%

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

$33.9K $33.9K

$21.6K ฿704.3K

56.56%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$22.5K ฿734.3K

14.02%

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

$162 $162

$70.5 ฿2,298

129.98%

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

$65.4 $65.4

$13.68 ฿445

378.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.3 $71.3

$17.45 ฿568

308.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.73 $44.73

$41.33 ฿1,346

8.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.02 $15.02

$6.96 ฿227

115.80%

Cinema Ticket

$14.33 $14.33

$5.77 ฿188

148.35%

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

$1,428 $1,428

$307 ฿10.0K

364.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.1K $16.1K

$14.6K ฿475.9K

10.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.1 $53.1

$55.8 ฿1,817

-4.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.2 $50.2

$26.21 ฿854

91.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 $115

$85.8 ฿2,793

33.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$72.2 ฿2,353

99.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,581 $1,581

$430 ฿14.0K

267.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,308 $1,308

$239 ฿7,774

447.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,861 $2,861

$817 ฿26.6K

250.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,224 $2,224

$511 ฿16.6K

335.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,389 $3,389

$1,983 ฿64.6K

70.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,329 $2,329

$1,484 ฿48.3K

56.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,215 $4,215

$619 ฿20.2K

581.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.64

32.80%

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

Last update for Spokane, WA: June 7, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,581 in Spokane, WA versus $430 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 581% higher in Spokane, 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 Spokane, WA versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $435 vs $241 – 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

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

Spokane, WA costs about 210% 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 $4,040 per month in Spokane, WA and $1,303 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 $1,428 per month in Spokane, WA and $307 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 80% more in Spokane, 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 $869, than in Spokane, WA at $2,694. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Spokane, WA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $869 versus $2,694 in Spokane, 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, Spokane, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.