Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between the United States and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $906 a month against $2,785 in the United States, rent and utilities included – about $22,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

🇺🇸 United States
$2,785
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$906
/mo nomad
😐 Solo nomad: The United States is 105.6% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 207.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: The United States is 120.9% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 177.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
United States
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.22 $20.22
$2.13 ฿71.4
849.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.1 $81.1
$19.40 ฿649
318.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.12 $12.12
$5.47 ฿183
121.57%
Cappuccino
$5.36 $5.36
$1.68 ฿56.4
219.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77 $2.77
$0.66 ฿22.10
319.70%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09 $2.09
$0.34 ฿11.52
514.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.84 $5.84
$2.42 ฿81.0
141.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.92 $7.92
$3.73 ฿125
112.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United States
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$2.06 ฿68.9
-49.51%
White Bread (500g)
$3.56 $3.56
$1.46 ฿48.78
143.84%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.69 $4.69
$1.35 ฿45.09
247.41%
Eggs
$4.43 $4.43
$2.27 ฿76.0
95.15%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.91 $12.91
$16.31 ฿546
-20.85%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.20 $12.20
$2.70 ฿90.3
351.85%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.00 $17.00
$9.20 ฿308
84.78%
Apples (1kg)
$5.31 $5.31
$2.39 ฿80.1
122.18%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 $1.67
$1.04 ฿34.66
60.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.49 $4.49
$1.60 ฿53.7
180.63%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.05 $5.05
$1.44 ฿48.37
250.69%
Potato (1kg)
$2.83 $2.83
$1.30 ฿43.59
117.69%
Onion (1kg)
$3.00 $3.00
$1.11 ฿37.29
170.27%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.28 $2.28
$0.70 ฿23.55
225.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.27 $2.27
$0.51 ฿16.99
345.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.33 $10.33
$4.13 ฿138
150.12%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.72 $14.72
$17.78 ฿595
-17.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.05 $2.05
$1.63 ฿54.7
25.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 $3.66
$2.87 ฿96.0
27.53%
🚌 Getting Around
United States
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.33 $2.33
$0.86 ฿28.76
170.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$65.1 $65.1
$53.2 ฿1,780
22.39%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.60 $3.60
$1.22 ฿40.81
195.08%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.90 $1.90
$0.56 ฿18.81
239.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.81 $29.81
$2.31 ฿77.5
1190.48%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.03 $1.03
$1.50 ฿50.2
-31.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1K $35.1K
$20.9K ฿698.3K
68.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$26.7K ฿895.0K
-1.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$216 $216
$61.3 ฿2,051
252.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$62.3 $62.3
$12.50 ฿419
398.48%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$74.6 $74.6
$20.36 ฿682
266.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United States
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.70 $44.70
$37.94 ฿1,270
17.82%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.55 $22.55
$3.77 ฿126
498.14%
Cinema Ticket
$15.19 $15.19
$6.60 ฿221
130.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
United States
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,440 $1,440
$774 ฿25.9K
86.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.2K $25.2K
$14.4K ฿483.2K
74.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United States
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.7 $53.7
$54.8 ฿1,835
-2.04%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.44 $42.44
$25.26 ฿846
68.01%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.4 $93.4
$90.6 ฿3,032
3.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115 $115
$73.3 ฿2,453
56.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United States
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,622 $1,622
$459 ฿15.4K
253.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,357 $1,357
$294 ฿9,835
361.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,681 $2,681
$919 ฿30.8K
191.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,170 $2,170
$552 ฿18.5K
293.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,294 $3,294
$1,917 ฿64.2K
71.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,674 $2,674
$1,445 ฿48.4K
85.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
United States
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,242 $4,242
$592 ฿19.8K
616.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.55
5.57
17.59%

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

Last update for the United States: October 6, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
United States
$1.4K
Chiang Mai
$294 78.3% $1.1K
Groceries & Markets
United States
$411
Chiang Mai
$236 42.6% $175
Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
$353
Chiang Mai
$94 73.3% $259
Eating Out
United States
$327
Chiang Mai
$77 76.4% $250
Clothing & Footwear
United States
$137
Chiang Mai
$110 19.9% $27
Getting Around
United States
$87
Chiang Mai
$61 30.7% $27
Sport & Entertainment
United States
$75
Chiang Mai
$51 31.9% $24
Good to know
🇺🇸 United States
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
22:59 10:59 PM
09:59 9:59 AM
11 h ahead of the United States
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
340,110,988
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 October 10, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 33.48 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.55 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • United States Chiang Mai 13,930 km ≈ 18 h nonstop flight
From you
  • United States
  • 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

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