Cost of Living Comparison Between Starkville, MS and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Starkville, MS and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,458 per month in Starkville, MS vs $847 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,050 per month in Starkville, MS vs $1,332 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,642 per month in Starkville, MS vs $1,816 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Starkville, MS costs about 190% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Starkville, MS sits 84% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 37% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.72 $16.72

$2.03 ฿68.4

723.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.8 $50.8

$18.71 ฿631

171.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.81 $6.81

$7.84 ฿264

-13.14%

Cappuccino

$4.57 $4.57

$1.93 ฿65.0

136.79%

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

$2.33 $2.33

$0.83 ฿28.01

180.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.91 $1.91

$0.35 ฿11.81

445.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.11 $4.11

$2.22 ฿74.8

85.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.87 $6.87

$3.79 ฿128

81.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.91 $0.91

$1.65 ฿55.5

-44.85%

White Bread (500g)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.55 ฿52.3

73.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$1.18 ฿39.82

134.75%

Eggs

$4.34 $4.34

$2.01 ฿67.9

115.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.26 $8.26

$16.16 ฿545

-48.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.02 $9.02

$3.03 ฿102

197.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.70 $15.70

$10.84 ฿365

44.83%

Apples (1kg)

$3.71 $3.71

$2.68 ฿90.3

38.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.22 ฿41.16

30.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.85 $2.85

$1.63 ฿54.8

74.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.44 $4.44

$1.53 ฿51.5

190.20%

Potato (1kg)

$2.21 $2.21

$1.34 ฿45.13

64.93%

Onion (1kg)

$2.30 $2.30

$1.21 ฿40.88

90.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.63 $1.63

$0.70 ฿23.65

132.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 $1.58

$0.53 ฿17.71

198.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.85 $7.85

$4.69 ฿158

67.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.27 $12.27

$17.71 ฿597

-30.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.85 ฿62.2

-7.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.19 $3.19

$3.21 ฿108

-0.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.95 $1.95

$0.89 ฿30.03

119.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.76 ฿632

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.08 $5.08

$1.41 ฿47.43

260.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.66 $1.66

$1.29 ฿43.54

28.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.80 $17.80

$7.79 ฿263

128.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.73 $0.73

$1.29 ฿43.61

-43.41%

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

$34.9K $34.9K

$21.8K ฿733.8K

60.10%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$21.7K ฿731.2K

23.66%

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

$177 $177

$70.0 ฿2,359

152.39%

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

$29.46 $29.46

$14.19 ฿478

107.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.1 $64.1

$17.42 ฿587

267.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.23 $42.23

$41.64 ฿1,404

1.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.89 ฿232

Cinema Ticket

$7.88 $7.88

$5.78 ฿195

36.33%

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

$989 $989

$300 ฿10.1K

229.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,454 $8,454

$14.5K ฿489.5K

-41.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$43.21 $43.21

$55.4 ฿1,866

-21.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.30 $37.30

$26.31 ฿887

41.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.5 $87.5

$84.8 ฿2,860

3.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$129 $129

$70.5 ฿2,376

83.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$967 $967

$425 ฿14.3K

127.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,334 $1,334

$235 ฿7,924

467.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,006 $2,006

$802 ฿27.0K

150.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,298 $1,298

$516 ฿17.4K

151.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,194 $2,194

$1,926 ฿64.9K

13.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,169 $2,169

$1,451 ฿48.9K

49.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,181 $4,181

$586 ฿19.8K

613.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.55

31.00%

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

Last update for Starkville, MS: July 20, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $967 in Starkville, MS versus $425 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 613% higher in Starkville, MS, 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 $51.0 in Starkville, MS versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $319 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

Starkville, MS vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Starkville, MS costs about 190% 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 $3,686 per month in Starkville, MS and $1,271 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $51.0 in Starkville, MS and $19.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 32% more in Starkville, MS, 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 $847, than in Starkville, MS at $2,458. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Starkville, MS it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $847 versus $2,458 in Starkville, MS. 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, Starkville, MS makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.