Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Binghamton, NY and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $938 a month against $2,256 in Binghamton, NY, rent and utilities included – about $15,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Binghamton, NY
🇺🇸 United States
$2,256
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$938
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Binghamton, NY and in Chiang Mai

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Binghamton, NY and in Chiang Mai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,256 in Binghamton, NY versus $938 in Chiang Mai.

  • Binghamton, NY $2,256
  • Chiang Mai $938

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,410 in Binghamton, NY versus $1,426 in Chiang Mai.

  • Binghamton, NY $3,410
  • Chiang Mai $1,426

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,565 in Binghamton, NY versus $1,914 in Chiang Mai.

  • Binghamton, NY $4,565
  • Chiang Mai $1,914

Living in Binghamton, NY is roughly 140% more expensive than in Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Binghamton, NY is 67% above, Chiang Mai is 30% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Binghamton, NY
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.32 $18.32
$2.26 ฿75.4
710.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.62 $49.62
$19.18 ฿641
158.71%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.07 $11.07
$5.59 ฿187
98.03%
Cappuccino
$4.82 $4.82
$1.72 ฿57.6
180.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 $2.14
$0.64 ฿21.54
234.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 $1.57
$0.33 ฿11.18
375.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.08 $5.08
$2.36 ฿78.7
115.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.14 $6.14
$3.90 ฿130
57.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Binghamton, NY
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.83 $0.83
$2.05 ฿68.6
-59.51%
White Bread (500g)
$3.52 $3.52
$1.40 ฿46.70
151.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.17 $4.17
$1.28 ฿42.89
225.78%
Eggs
$3.79 $3.79
$2.25 ฿75.3
68.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.36 $12.36
$16.94 ฿566
-27.04%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.00 $12.00
$2.74 ฿91.6
337.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.54 $14.54
$9.36 ฿313
55.34%
Apples (1kg)
$5.37 $5.37
$2.40 ฿80.3
123.75%
Banana (1kg)
$1.78 $1.78
$1.01 ฿33.92
76.24%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.11 $5.11
$1.61 ฿53.9
217.39%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.29 $6.29
$1.52 ฿50.7
313.82%
Potato (1kg)
$3.87 $3.87
$1.28 ฿42.90
202.34%
Onion (1kg)
$3.58 $3.58
$1.11 ฿37.22
222.52%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.36 $2.36
$0.72 ฿24.09
227.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.96 $2.96
$0.52 ฿17.54
469.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.66 $14.66
$4.33 ฿145
238.57%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.95 $14.95
$17.73 ฿593
-15.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 $1.69
$1.63 ฿54.4
3.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.02 $5.02
$2.85 ฿95.3
76.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Binghamton, NY
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.95 $1.95
$0.85 ฿28.31
129.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$70.3 $70.3
$53.9 ฿1,801
30.50%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.97 $2.97
$1.17 ฿39.18
153.85%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.78 $1.78
$0.57 ฿19.00
212.28%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.16 $24.16
$2.37 ฿79.2
919.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 $1.02
$1.45 ฿48.32
-29.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3K $28.3K
$20.5K ฿684.3K
38.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.8K $27.8K
$26.5K ฿886.1K
4.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Binghamton, NY
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$213 $213
$62.3 ฿2,083
242.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$65.3 $65.3
$12.27 ฿410
432.03%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.3 $64.3
$19.97 ฿668
221.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Binghamton, NY
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.6 $51.6
$37.91 ฿1,267
35.98%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$40.33 $40.33
$3.76 ฿126
972.61%
Cinema Ticket
$12.81 $12.81
$6.71 ฿224
90.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Binghamton, NY
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,302 $1,302
$797 ฿26.6K
63.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,031 $7,031
$14.8K ฿495.7K
-52.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Binghamton, NY
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.32 $41.32
$53.3 ฿1,780
-22.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.9 $57.9
$25.05 ฿837
131.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.2 $75.2
$91.6 ฿3,062
-17.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$148 $148
$73.5 ฿2,455
101.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Binghamton, NY
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,323 $1,323
$464 ฿15.5K
185.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$893 $893
$305 ฿10.2K
193.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,946 $1,946
$915 ฿30.6K
112.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,666 $1,666
$552 ฿18.5K
201.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,419 $1,419
$1,912 ฿63.9K
-25.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,267 $1,267
$1,438 ฿48.1K
-11.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Binghamton, NY
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,684 $3,684
$595 ฿19.9K
518.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.65
5.57
19.39%

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

Last update for Binghamton, NY: October 12, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Binghamton, NY
$893
Chiang Mai
$305 65.9% $588
Groceries & Markets
Binghamton, NY
$418
Chiang Mai
$238 43% $180
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Binghamton, NY
$343
Chiang Mai
$95 72.4% $248
Eating Out
Binghamton, NY
$290
Chiang Mai
$79 72.8% $211
Clothing & Footwear
Binghamton, NY
$145
Chiang Mai
$110 24.5% $36
Getting Around
Binghamton, NY
$90
Chiang Mai
$61 31.9% $29
Sport & Entertainment
Binghamton, NY
$77
Chiang Mai
$51 33.5% $26

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,323 in Binghamton, NY and $464 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Binghamton, NY pays 519% 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 $418 vs $238 per month, with Chiang Mai cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Binghamton, NY
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
21:43 9:43 PM
08:43 8:43 AM
11 h ahead of Binghamton, NY
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
47,969
127,240
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Binghamton, NY Chiang Mai 13,220 km ≈ 17 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Binghamton, NY
  • Chiang Mai

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Is Chiang Mai cheaper than Binghamton, NY?
Chiang Mai is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 140% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Binghamton, NY or Chiang Mai?
Average pay runs 519% higher in Binghamton, NY, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Binghamton, NY and Chiang Mai?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,323 in Binghamton, NY versus $464 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Binghamton, NY and in Chiang Mai?
Supermarket bills run roughly 75% higher in Binghamton, NY. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Binghamton, NY or in Chiang Mai?
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.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Binghamton, NY or in Chiang Mai?
At $938 in Chiang Mai versus $2,256 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.
Is Binghamton, NY or Chiang Mai more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Binghamton, NY or Chiang Mai?
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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Chiang Mai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 140% less than in Binghamton, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Binghamton, NY vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?