Cost of Living Comparison Between Binghamton, NY and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Binghamton, NY and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,325 in Binghamton, NY versus $866 in Chiang Mai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,466 in Binghamton, NY versus $1,351 in Chiang Mai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,608 in Binghamton, NY versus $1,835 in Chiang Mai.

Living in Binghamton, NY is roughly 168% more expensive than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Binghamton, NY is 73% above, Chiang Mai is 35% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.12 $20.12

$1.94 ฿63.5

937.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.69 $49.69

$18.64 ฿609

166.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.86 $9.86

$7.82 ฿255

26.09%

Cappuccino

$4.56 $4.56

$1.95 ฿63.8

133.85%

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

$2.39 $2.39

$0.85 ฿27.77

181.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 $2.01

$0.35 ฿11.58

474.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.89 $4.89

$2.13 ฿69.6

129.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.87 $4.87

$3.73 ฿122

30.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.91 $0.91

$1.71 ฿56.0

-46.78%

White Bread (500g)

$3.17 $3.17

$1.63 ฿53.2

94.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.01 $6.01

$1.14 ฿37.15

427.19%

Eggs

$4.23 $4.23

$1.93 ฿63.1

119.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.12 $16.12

$16.21 ฿530

-0.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.26 $13.26

$3.12 ฿102

325.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.75 $15.75

$10.90 ฿356

44.50%

Apples (1kg)

$7.94 $7.94

$2.75 ฿90.0

188.73%

Banana (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$1.21 ฿39.52

136.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.31 $6.31

$1.62 ฿53.0

289.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$1.59 ฿51.8

247.17%

Potato (1kg)

$3.74 $3.74

$1.40 ฿45.70

167.14%

Onion (1kg)

$3.47 $3.47

$1.17 ฿38.17

196.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.02 $2.02

$0.66 ฿21.60

206.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.70 $2.70

$0.53 ฿17.22

409.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.05 $15.05

$4.69 ฿153

220.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.30 $15.30

$18.66 ฿609

-18.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.80 ฿58.8

-1.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 $3.51

$3.23 ฿106

8.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.94 $1.94

$0.90 ฿29.26

115.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$71.1 $71.1

$19.21 ฿628

270.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.08 $6.08

$1.41 ฿45.91

331.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.13 $2.13

$1.29 ฿42.12

65.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.49 $41.49

$7.84 ฿256

429.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 $0.85

$1.27 ฿41.58

-33.07%

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

$24.8K $24.8K

$21.3K ฿694.9K

16.75%

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

$28.7K $28.7K

$22.2K ฿725.4K

29.10%

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

$199 $199

$69.1 ฿2,256

188.45%

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

$47.78 $47.78

$14.08 ฿460

239.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$77.7 $77.7

$18.00 ฿588

331.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.0 $53.0

$41.06 ฿1,341

29.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.10 $40.10

$6.96 ฿227

476.15%

Cinema Ticket

$12.76 $12.76

$5.92 ฿193

115.54%

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

$1,247 $1,247

$299 ฿9,766

317.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.3K $40.3K

$15.0K ฿488.3K

169.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.1 $53.1

$54.7 ฿1,787

-2.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.18 $41.18

$26.77 ฿874

53.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$110 $110

$85.0 ฿2,776

29.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$130 $130

$70.6 ฿2,306

83.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,162 $1,162

$428 ฿14.0K

171.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$874 $874

$237 ฿7,752

268.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,109 $2,109

$801 ฿26.2K

163.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,511 $1,511

$515 ฿16.8K

193.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,256 $1,256

$1,975 ฿64.5K

-36.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,261 $1,261

$1,475 ฿48.2K

-14.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,619 $3,619

$617 ฿20.2K

486.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.55

31.00%

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

Last update for Binghamton, NY: June 2, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,162 in Binghamton, NY and $428 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Binghamton, NY pays 486% 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: $50.0 in Binghamton, NY vs $19.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $458 vs $246 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

Binghamton, NY vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 168% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Binghamton, NY pays 486% more on average, 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: $1,162 in Binghamton, NY versus $428 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 86% higher in Binghamton, NY. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Chiang Mai – a meal for two runs $19.00 versus $50.0 in Binghamton, NY. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $866 in Chiang Mai versus $2,325 in Binghamton, NY, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Binghamton, NY. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Chiang Mai is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Binghamton, NY, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Binghamton, NY 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 168% less than in Binghamton, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.