Cost of Living Comparison Between Camden, NJ and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Camden, NJ and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,863 in Camden, NJ versus $847 in Chiang Mai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,246 in Camden, NJ versus $1,332 in Chiang Mai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,629 in Camden, NJ versus $1,816 in Chiang Mai.

Living in Camden, NJ is roughly 238% more expensive than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Camden, NJ is 114% above, Chiang Mai is 37% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.65 $19.65

$2.03 ฿68.5

867.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$90.0 $90.0

$18.71 ฿631

381.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.84 $11.84

$7.84 ฿265

51.02%

Cappuccino

$4.89 $4.89

$1.93 ฿65.0

153.37%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$0.83 ฿28.05

218.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 $2.01

$0.35 ฿11.82

474.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.13 $6.13

$2.22 ฿74.9

176.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.19 $7.19

$3.79 ฿128

89.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.65 ฿55.5

-13.94%

White Bread (500g)

$4.05 $4.05

$1.55 ฿52.4

161.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.43 $8.43

$1.18 ฿39.86

614.41%

Eggs

$4.37 $4.37

$2.01 ฿68.0

117.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.43 $15.43

$16.16 ฿545

-4.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.58 $16.58

$3.03 ฿102

447.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.81 $19.81

$10.84 ฿366

82.75%

Apples (1kg)

$5.91 $5.91

$2.68 ฿90.4

120.52%

Banana (1kg)

$2.22 $2.22

$1.22 ฿41.21

81.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.62 $5.62

$1.63 ฿54.9

244.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.47 $5.47

$1.53 ฿51.6

257.52%

Potato (1kg)

$3.83 $3.83

$1.34 ฿45.18

185.82%

Onion (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.21 ฿40.93

138.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.98 $2.98

$0.70 ฿23.67

325.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$0.53 ฿17.73

367.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.07 $13.07

$4.69 ฿158

178.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.41 $21.41

$17.71 ฿598

20.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.02 $2.02

$1.85 ฿62.3

9.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.20 $4.20

$3.21 ฿108

30.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.35 $2.35

$0.89 ฿30.07

164.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$58.8 $58.8

$18.76 ฿633

213.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.08 $3.08

$1.41 ฿47.48

118.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 $1.53

$1.29 ฿43.59

18.60%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.31 $22.31

$7.79 ฿263

186.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$1.29 ฿43.67

-31.01%

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

$30.7K $30.7K

$21.8K ฿734.7K

41.10%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$21.7K ฿732.1K

17.74%

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

$270 $270

$70.0 ฿2,362

285.52%

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

$59.6 $59.6

$14.19 ฿479

319.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$77.4 $77.4

$17.42 ฿588

344.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.35 $42.35

$41.64 ฿1,405

1.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.89 ฿233

Cinema Ticket

$14.95 $14.95

$5.78 ฿195

158.65%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$300 ฿10.1K

588.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.8K $23.8K

$14.5K ฿490.1K

63.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.3 $57.3

$55.4 ฿1,869

3.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.37 $41.37

$26.31 ฿888

57.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.1 $93.1

$84.8 ฿2,863

9.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$70.5 ฿2,379

104.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,610 $1,610

$425 ฿14.4K

278.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,355 $1,355

$235 ฿7,933

476.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,667 $2,667

$802 ฿27.1K

232.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,236 $2,236

$516 ฿17.4K

333.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,441 $2,441

$1,926 ฿65.0K

26.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,103 $2,103

$1,451 ฿49.0K

44.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,740 $4,740

$586 ฿19.8K

708.41%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

28.80%

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

Last update for Camden, NJ: July 20, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,610 in Camden, NJ and $425 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Camden, NJ pays 708% 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: $90.0 in Camden, NJ vs $19.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $507 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

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

Camden, NJ and Chiang Mai differ by about 238% in total monthly costs ($2,863 vs $847 including rent). Chiang Mai is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 708% higher in Camden, 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: $1,610 in Camden, NJ versus $425 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Chiang Mai runs roughly 214% less than in Camden, NJ. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $2,063 in Camden, NJ versus $300 in Chiang Mai. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $847 in Chiang Mai versus $2,863 in Camden, NJ, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Camden, 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, Camden, 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 238% less than in Camden, NJ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.