Cost of Living Comparison Between Turlock, CA and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Turlock, CA and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,493 per month in Turlock, CA vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,542 per month in Turlock, CA vs $1,360 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,592 per month in Turlock, CA vs $1,867 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Turlock, CA costs about 192% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Turlock, CA sits 87% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.87 $11.87

$2.04 ฿68.2

481.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.9 $63.9

$18.71 ฿624

241.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.84 $10.84

$7.86 ฿262

37.91%

Cappuccino

$5.64 $5.64

$2.03 ฿67.7

177.83%

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

$2.20 $2.20

$0.80 ฿26.64

175.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 $1.95

$0.35 ฿11.68

457.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.98 $5.98

$2.14 ฿71.5

179.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.95 $7.95

$3.67 ฿122

116.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.73 ฿57.6

-21.97%

White Bread (500g)

$2.19 $2.19

$1.57 ฿52.4

39.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$1.20 ฿39.99

274.17%

Eggs

$3.06 $3.06

$1.97 ฿65.8

55.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.89 $10.89

$16.23 ฿541

-32.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.62 $8.62

$3.06 ฿102

181.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.23 $14.23

$10.80 ฿360

31.76%

Apples (1kg)

$3.97 $3.97

$2.77 ฿92.3

43.32%

Banana (1kg)

$2.23 $2.23

$1.17 ฿38.94

90.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.38 $2.38

$1.71 ฿57.0

39.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.22 $2.22

$1.59 ฿53.2

39.62%

Potato (1kg)

$2.44 $2.44

$1.39 ฿46.51

75.54%

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 $2.17

$1.16 ฿38.56

87.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.47 $2.47

$0.66 ฿22.05

274.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 $0.98

$0.52 ฿17.31

88.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.65 $9.65

$4.65 ฿155

107.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.40 $14.40

$17.78 ฿593

-19.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.06 $2.06

$1.79 ฿59.6

15.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.57 $2.57

$3.34 ฿111

-23.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.01 $2.01

$0.91 ฿30.27

120.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿622

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.47 $3.47

$1.41 ฿47.04

146.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.66 $1.66

$1.34 ฿44.70

23.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.33 $29.33

$8.11 ฿270

261.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 $1.28

$1.23 ฿41.16

4.07%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$21.4K ฿715.1K

23.32%

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

$27.2K $27.2K

$21.8K ฿728.0K

24.44%

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

$187 $187

$71.3 ฿2,379

162.26%

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

$51.6 $51.6

$14.01 ฿467

268.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.2 $60.2

$17.93 ฿598

235.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.66 $42.66

$40.82 ฿1,362

4.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

Cinema Ticket

$25.07 $25.07

$5.72 ฿191

338.29%

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

$1,297 $1,297

$308 ฿10.3K

320.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.8K $23.8K

$14.7K ฿489.7K

61.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.9 $61.9

$55.8 ฿1,860

10.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.90 $34.90

$26.04 ฿869

34.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.5 $98.5

$84.8 ฿2,829

16.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 $114

$71.0 ฿2,368

59.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,605 $1,605

$423 ฿14.1K

279.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,338 $1,338

$242 ฿8,088

451.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,639 $2,639

$797 ฿26.6K

231.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,216 $2,216

$507 ฿16.9K

337.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿48.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,285 $4,285

$595 ฿19.9K

620.03%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.32

26.40%

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

Last update for Turlock, CA: July 27, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,605 in Turlock, CA versus $423 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 620% higher in Turlock, CA, 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 $64.0 in Turlock, CA versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $316 vs $244 – 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

Turlock, CA vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Turlock, CA costs about 192% 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 $3,739 per month in Turlock, CA and $1,279 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 $64.0 in Turlock, CA 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 29% more in Turlock, CA, 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 $852, than in Turlock, CA at $2,493. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Turlock, CA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $2,493 in Turlock, CA. 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, Turlock, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.