Cost of living comparison

 Bangkok, Thailand
compared to
 Des Moines (IA), United States
Des Moines vs. Bangkok Cost of Living Summary

Des Moines is 2.0 times more expensive than Bangkok.

Restaurants
pay 4.5 times more in Des Moines
Groceries
pay 59.7% more in Des Moines
Transportation
pay 5.3% less in Des Moines
Housing
pay 2.6 times more in Des Moines
Childcare
pay 52.0% more in Des Moines
Entertainment and Sports
pay 77.4% more in Des Moines
Clothing
pay 18.1% more in Des Moines

The cost of restaurants, housing, entertainment and sports, groceries, childcare, and clothing in Des Moines are more expensive than in Bangkok. Notably, restaurants, housing, and entertainment and sports are significantly more expensive in Des Moines.

Des Moines vs. Bangkok Cost Breakdown

If you lived in Des Moines instead of Bangkok, you would:

pay 4.5 times more for restaurants

 
Bangkok
Des Moines
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $2.91
THB97.50
$16.00
 
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$5.83
THB195.01
$10.00
 
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $0.62
THB20.61
$2.36
 

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pay 59.7% more for groceries

 
Bangkok
Des Moines
Bread
1 loaf
$1.52
THB50.95
$2.86
 
Local cheese (8 oz) $11.74
THB392.96
$5.99
 
Milk (1 gallon) $7.32
THB244.97
$3.92
 

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pay 5.3% less for transportation

 
Bangkok
Des Moines
Gasoline (1 gallon) $4.47
THB149.46
$3.07
 
Monthly public transit pass $39.32
THB1,316.30
$58.00
 
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $55,345.18
THB1,852,569.13
$26,000.00
 

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pay 2.6 times more for housing

 
Bangkok
Des Moines
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$15.36
THB514.15
$53.50
 
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $571.31
THB19,123.29
$1,215.00
 
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $301.88
THB10,104.92
$912.50
 

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pay 52.0% more for childcare

 
Bangkok
Des Moines
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $632.63
THB21,176.14
$1,357.76
 
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $13,191.37
THB441,554.60
$11,812.00
 

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pay 77.4% more for entertainment and sports

 
Bangkok
Des Moines
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $2.33
THB78.00
$5.00
 
Cappuccino in mid-range area $2.58
THB86.48
$4.51
 
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$4.20
THB140.65
$7.14
 

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pay 18.1% more for clothing

 
Bangkok
Des Moines
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$55.27
THB1,850.00
$56.43
 
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$34.84
THB1,166.16
$42.50
 
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$97.10
THB3,250.09
$90.50
 

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The statistics used to build this comparison are calculated using data from users just like you. We average the price of thousands of data points entered by users across the world. Learn more about our data sources. Page last updated: April 2025
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