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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,501 per month in Ukiah, CA vs $950 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,763 per month in Ukiah, CA vs $1,430 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,025 per month in Ukiah, CA vs $1,909 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Ukiah, CA costs about 163% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Ukiah, CA sits 81% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 31% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$21.09 $21.09

$2.10 ฿69.3

904.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$55.8 $55.8

$19.84 ฿656

181.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.32 $11.32

$5.79 ฿191

95.51%

Cappuccino

$5.19 $5.19

$1.83 ฿60.4

183.61%

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

$2.98 $2.98

$0.78 ฿25.61

282.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 $2.23

$0.31 ฿10.37

619.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.13 $5.13

$2.34 ฿77.2

119.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.08 $6.08

$3.70 ฿122

64.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$2.03 ฿67.1

-41.38%

White Bread (500g)

$4.18 $4.18

$1.60 ฿52.7

161.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.25 $5.25

$1.42 ฿46.75

269.72%

Eggs

$6.34 $6.34

$2.18 ฿71.9

190.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.27 $12.27

$15.91 ฿526

-22.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.88 $7.88

$3.07 ฿102

156.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.32 $18.32

$9.87 ฿326

85.61%

Apples (1kg)

$4.53 $4.53

$2.63 ฿86.8

72.24%

Banana (1kg)

$2.25 $2.25

$1.10 ฿36.19

104.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.37 $6.37

$1.63 ฿53.8

290.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.20 $6.20

$1.53 ฿50.6

305.23%

Potato (1kg)

$5.06 $5.06

$1.24 ฿41.13

308.06%

Onion (1kg)

$3.11 $3.11

$1.13 ฿37.37

175.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.48 $2.48

$0.74 ฿24.38

235.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.31 $3.31

$0.50 ฿16.48

562.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.87 $11.87

$4.28 ฿141

177.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.82 $11.82

$17.97 ฿594

-34.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.70 ฿56.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.05 $3.05

$2.90 ฿95.7

5.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.27 $3.27

$1.23 ฿40.76

165.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.45 $2.45

$0.53 ฿17.66

362.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$39.89 $39.89

$2.40 ฿79.3

1562.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 $1.33

$1.44 ฿47.55

-7.64%

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

$37.2K $37.2K

$21.2K ฿700.2K

75.55%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$27.3K ฿902.1K

-3.85%

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

$186 $186

$64.9 ฿2,145

185.94%

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

$60.8 $60.8

$13.35 ฿441

355.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.0 $68.0

$20.83 ฿688

226.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$105 $105

$40.42 ฿1,336

160.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$12.12 $12.12

$6.71 ฿222

80.63%

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

$1,481 $1,481

$787 ฿26.0K

88.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.0K $38.0K

$15.1K ฿499.6K

151.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.77 $36.77

$56.2 ฿1,858

-34.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.92 $14.92

$24.95 ฿824

-40.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.3 $86.3

$92.7 ฿3,063

-6.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$142 $142

$75.1 ฿2,482

88.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,472 $1,472

$484 ฿16.0K

204.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,185 $1,185

$287 ฿9,491

312.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,321 $2,321

$910 ฿30.1K

155.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,141 $2,141

$531 ฿17.5K

303.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,946 $3,946

$1,980 ฿65.4K

99.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,638 $3,638

$1,451 ฿47.9K

150.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

7.72%

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

Last update for Ukiah, CA: September 6, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,472 in Ukiah, CA versus $484 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $56.0 in Ukiah, CA versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $433 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

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

Ukiah, CA costs about 163% 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 $3,752 per month in Ukiah, CA and $1,426 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 $56.0 in Ukiah, CA and $20.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 79% more in Ukiah, 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 $950, than in Ukiah, CA at $2,501. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ukiah, CA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $950 versus $2,501 in Ukiah, 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, Ukiah, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.