That $10 mid-sized Indiana city Pad Thai would be $20 in Sarasota, Florida, where I spent a few days. It's all hopeless though, make it yourself and source things like tamarind, peanuts, noodles, etc., and you've also spent just a few bills less than it would take to buy a rideable used moto here.
I find that Thai food is too hip now, and now that even rednecks enjoy it, it's become sweet, less spicy, more savory, salty, and is no longer intended to be served to local Thai residents and workers.
well that's true of almost any ethnic food in America, particularly Asian food.