Cost of Living Comparison Between Waco, TX and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Waco, TX and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,756 per month in Waco, TX vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,750 per month in Waco, TX vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,743 per month in Waco, TX vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Waco, TX costs about 223% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Waco, TX sits 106% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.48 $19.48

$1.96 ฿63.6

893.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.5 $63.5

$18.81 ฿611

237.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.86 $9.86

$7.92 ฿258

24.49%

Cappuccino

$5.80 $5.80

$1.91 ฿62.2

203.66%

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

$2.22 $2.22

$0.84 ฿27.25

164.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.54 $1.54

$0.35 ฿11.44

340.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.06 $6.06

$2.21 ฿71.7

174.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.99 $4.99

$3.80 ฿124

31.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$1.64 ฿53.2

-39.02%

White Bread (500g)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.62 ฿52.8

70.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.18 ฿38.40

118.64%

Eggs

$4.30 $4.30

$2.01 ฿65.4

113.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.24 $12.24

$15.89 ฿517

-22.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.53 $10.53

$3.01 ฿98.0

249.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.55 $11.55

$10.77 ฿350

7.24%

Apples (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$2.61 ฿85.0

55.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 $1.18

$1.22 ฿39.65

-3.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.12 $4.12

$1.70 ฿55.4

142.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.72 $3.72

$1.58 ฿51.2

135.44%

Potato (1kg)

$2.72 $2.72

$1.32 ฿42.89

106.06%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.17 ฿38.01

134.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.63 $1.63

$0.67 ฿21.85

143.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 $1.74

$0.56 ฿18.21

210.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.10 $8.10

$4.53 ฿147

78.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.91 $13.91

$18.20 ฿592

-23.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 $1.75

$1.83 ฿59.6

-4.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 $3.47

$3.23 ฿105

7.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.53 $1.53

$0.89 ฿28.83

71.91%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.61 $40.61

$19.38 ฿630

109.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.33 $4.33

$1.35 ฿43.95

220.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.35 ฿43.79

36.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.45 $35.45

$8.25 ฿268

329.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.71 $0.71

$1.27 ฿41.40

-44.09%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$21.2K ฿687.8K

20.70%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$22.5K ฿731.0K

16.15%

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

$174 $174

$70.2 ฿2,281

147.74%

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

$59.4 $59.4

$13.77 ฿448

331.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.3 $65.3

$17.60 ฿572

271.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.68 $27.68

$41.57 ฿1,352

-33.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿215

Cinema Ticket

$9.56 $9.56

$5.78 ฿188

65.40%

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

$853 $853

$306 ฿9,953

178.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.1K $22.1K

$14.8K ฿482.0K

49.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.9 $50.9

$54.4 ฿1,768

-6.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.89 $45.89

$26.14 ฿850

75.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.1 $79.1

$84.5 ฿2,748

-6.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 $117

$69.4 ฿2,257

68.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,187 $1,187

$424 ฿13.8K

180.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,531 $1,531

$238 ฿7,743

542.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,419 $2,419

$825 ฿26.8K

193.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,197 $2,197

$515 ฿16.7K

326.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,925 $1,925

$2,049 ฿66.6K

-6.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,953 $1,953

$1,523 ฿49.5K

28.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,162 $3,162

$635 ฿20.6K

397.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

29.00%

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

Last update for Waco, TX: April 27, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,187 in Waco, TX versus $424 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 398% higher in Waco, TX, 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 Waco, TX versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $336 vs $243 – 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

Waco, TX vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Waco, TX costs about 223% 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 $4,134 per month in Waco, TX and $1,278 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.

Kindergarten costs $853 per month in Waco, TX and $306 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 38% more in Waco, TX, 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 Waco, TX at $2,756. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Waco, TX it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $2,756 in Waco, TX. 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, Waco, TX makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.