Cost of Living Comparison Between Bergen County, NJ and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Bergen County, NJ and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,337 in Bergen County, NJ versus $950 in Chiang Mai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,501 in Bergen County, NJ versus $1,430 in Chiang Mai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,664 in Bergen County, NJ versus $1,909 in Chiang Mai.

Living in Bergen County, NJ is roughly 356% more expensive than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Bergen County, NJ is 215% above, Chiang Mai is 31% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.15 $22.15

$2.10 ฿69.3

954.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.6 $84.6

$19.84 ฿656

326.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.42 $12.42

$5.79 ฿191

114.51%

Cappuccino

$5.11 $5.11

$1.83 ฿60.4

179.23%

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

$3.06 $3.06

$0.78 ฿25.61

292.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 $2.20

$0.31 ฿10.37

609.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.19 $8.19

$2.34 ฿77.2

250.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$3.70 ฿122

112.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 $1.40

$2.03 ฿67.1

-31.03%

White Bread (500g)

$4.51 $4.51

$1.60 ฿52.7

181.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.66 $8.66

$1.42 ฿46.75

509.86%

Eggs

$5.03 $5.03

$2.18 ฿71.9

130.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.29 $12.29

$15.91 ฿526

-22.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.82 $11.82

$3.07 ฿102

285.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.38 $17.38

$9.87 ฿326

76.09%

Apples (1kg)

$5.49 $5.49

$2.63 ฿86.8

108.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.10 ฿36.19

55.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.06 $5.06

$1.63 ฿53.8

210.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.91 $4.91

$1.53 ฿50.6

220.92%

Potato (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$1.24 ฿41.13

130.65%

Onion (1kg)

$3.08 $3.08

$1.13 ฿37.37

172.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.40 $2.40

$0.74 ฿24.38

224.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.39 $2.39

$0.50 ฿16.48

378.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.22 $13.22

$4.28 ฿141

208.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.80 $23.80

$17.97 ฿594

32.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.70 ฿56.1

3.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.35 $4.35

$2.90 ฿95.7

50.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.17 $4.17

$0.94 ฿31.13

343.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$168 $168

$55.3 ฿1,827

203.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.71 $2.71

$1.23 ฿40.76

120.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.59 $1.59

$0.53 ฿17.66

200.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.62 $23.62

$2.40 ฿79.3

884.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$1.44 ฿47.55

-26.39%

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

$35.8K $35.8K

$21.2K ฿700.2K

68.69%

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

$24.9K $24.9K

$27.3K ฿902.1K

-8.64%

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

$213 $213

$64.9 ฿2,145

228.06%

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

$78.2 $78.2

$13.35 ฿441

485.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.8 $65.8

$20.83 ฿688

215.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$102 $102

$40.42 ฿1,336

152.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$50.5 $50.5

$3.95 ฿131

1177.97%

Cinema Ticket

$15.29 $15.29

$6.71 ฿222

127.87%

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

$2,209 $2,209

$787 ฿26.0K

180.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.2K $23.2K

$15.1K ฿499.6K

53.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.67 $48.67

$56.2 ฿1,858

-13.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.61 $46.61

$24.95 ฿824

86.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.2 $80.2

$92.7 ฿3,063

-13.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$152 $152

$75.1 ฿2,482

102.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,743 $2,743

$484 ฿16.0K

467.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,647 $2,647

$287 ฿9,491

821.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,662 $4,662

$910 ฿30.1K

412.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,948 $2,948

$531 ฿17.5K

455.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,004 $4,004

$1,980 ฿65.4K

102.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,832 $3,832

$1,451 ฿47.9K

164.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,337 $5,337

$605 ฿20.0K

781.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.16

5.57

10.59%

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

Last update for Bergen County, NJ: September 5, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,743 in Bergen County, NJ and $484 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bergen County, NJ pays 782% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $85.0 in Bergen County, NJ vs $20.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $463 vs $242 per month, with Chiang Mai cheaper across the board.

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

Bergen County, NJ vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bergen County, NJ and Chiang Mai differ by about 356% in total monthly costs ($4,337 vs $950 including rent). Chiang Mai is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 782% higher in Bergen County, NJ, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,743 in Bergen County, NJ versus $484 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Chiang Mai – a meal for two runs $20.00 versus $85.0 in Bergen County, NJ. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $4,337 per month in Bergen County, NJ versus $950 in Chiang Mai – a 356% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $950 in Chiang Mai versus $4,337 in Bergen County, NJ, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Bergen County, NJ. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Bergen County, NJ and Chiang Mai are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Chiang Mai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 356% less than in Bergen County, NJ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.