Cost of Living Comparison Between University Place, WA and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between University Place, WA and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,637 per month in University Place, WA vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,035 per month in University Place, WA vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,433 per month in University Place, WA vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

University Place, WA costs about 204% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

University Place, WA sits 97% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.29 $16.29

$1.94 ฿63.8

739.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$116 $116

$18.64 ฿611

523.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.61 $12.61

$7.82 ฿256

61.25%

Cappuccino

$6.23 $6.23

$1.95 ฿64.1

219.49%

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

$2.93 $2.93

$0.85 ฿27.90

244.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$0.35 ฿11.64

605.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.09 $9.09

$2.13 ฿69.9

326.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.78 $11.78

$3.73 ฿122

215.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.71 ฿56.2

-33.92%

White Bread (500g)

$4.22 $4.22

$1.63 ฿53.4

158.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.71 $2.71

$1.14 ฿37.32

137.72%

Eggs

$4.94 $4.94

$1.93 ฿63.4

155.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.32 $11.32

$16.21 ฿532

-30.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.32 $16.32

$3.12 ฿102

423.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.04 $19.04

$10.90 ฿357

74.68%

Apples (1kg)

$5.28 $5.28

$2.75 ฿90.4

92.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 $1.63

$1.21 ฿39.70

34.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.98 $4.98

$1.62 ฿53.2

207.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.74 $3.74

$1.59 ฿52.1

135.22%

Potato (1kg)

$3.32 $3.32

$1.40 ฿45.91

137.14%

Onion (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.17 ฿38.34

141.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.00 $2.00

$0.66 ฿21.70

203.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.03 $3.03

$0.53 ฿17.30

471.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.06 $11.06

$4.69 ฿154

135.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.80 $18.80

$18.66 ฿612

0.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.80 ฿59.0

-4.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.46 $3.46

$3.23 ฿106

7.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.95 $1.95

$0.90 ฿29.39

116.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿630

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.56 $2.56

$1.41 ฿46.13

81.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.29 ฿42.31

51.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.84 $29.84

$7.84 ฿257

280.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 $1.15

$1.27 ฿41.77

-9.45%

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

$30.1K $30.1K

$21.3K ฿698.1K

41.45%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$22.2K ฿728.8K

14.44%

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

$159 $159

$69.1 ฿2,266

129.85%

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

$52.3 $52.3

$14.08 ฿462

271.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$88.1 $88.1

$18.00 ฿591

389.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.32 $42.32

$41.06 ฿1,347

3.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿228

Cinema Ticket

$17.74 $17.74

$5.92 ฿194

199.66%

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

$2,052 $2,052

$299 ฿9,811

586.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.6K $29.6K

$15.0K ฿490.6K

98.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.1 $60.1

$54.7 ฿1,795

9.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.35 $37.35

$26.77 ฿878

39.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.5 $98.5

$85.0 ฿2,788

15.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 $113

$70.6 ฿2,316

59.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,594 $1,594

$428 ฿14.0K

272.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,329 $1,329

$237 ฿7,787

460.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,589 $2,589

$801 ฿26.3K

223.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,253 $2,253

$515 ฿16.9K

337.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,770 $2,770

$1,975 ฿64.8K

40.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,449 $2,449

$1,475 ฿48.4K

66.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,868 $7,868

$617 ฿20.3K

1174.21%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

30.20%

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

Last update for University Place, WA: June 2, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,594 in University Place, WA versus $428 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 1174% higher in University Place, 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 $116 in University Place, WA versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $445 vs $246 – 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

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

University Place, WA costs about 204% 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 $3,955 per month in University Place, WA and $1,300 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 $116 in University Place, WA 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 81% more in University Place, 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 $866, than in University Place, WA at $2,637. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in University Place, WA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $2,637 in University Place, 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, University Place, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.