Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Camden, NJ and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $925 a month against $2,569 in Camden, NJ, rent and utilities included – about $19,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Camden, NJ
🇺🇸 United States
$2,569
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$925
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Camden, NJ 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 Camden, NJ and in Chiang Mai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,569 in Camden, NJ versus $925 in Chiang Mai.

  • Camden, NJ $2,569
  • Chiang Mai $925

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,856 in Camden, NJ versus $1,414 in Chiang Mai.

  • Camden, NJ $3,856
  • Chiang Mai $1,414

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,143 in Camden, NJ versus $1,903 in Chiang Mai.

  • Camden, NJ $5,143
  • Chiang Mai $1,903

Living in Camden, NJ is roughly 178% more expensive than in Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Camden, NJ is 90% above, Chiang Mai is 32% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Camden, NJ
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.17 $20.17
$2.29 ฿76.5
780.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$78.9 $78.9
$19.64 ฿656
301.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.88 $11.88
$5.61 ฿188
111.76%
Cappuccino
$5.34 $5.34
$1.66 ฿55.6
221.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 $2.58
$0.70 ฿23.40
268.57%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30 $2.30
$0.31 ฿10.24
641.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.03 $6.03
$2.41 ฿80.4
150.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.79 $7.79
$3.71 ฿124
109.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Camden, NJ
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.46 $1.46
$1.95 ฿65.3
-25.13%
White Bread (500g)
$3.48 $3.48
$1.41 ฿47.03
146.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$7.19 $7.19
$1.31 ฿43.62
448.85%
Eggs
$5.05 $5.05
$2.18 ฿72.9
131.65%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.33 $12.33
$16.65 ฿556
-25.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.85 $12.85
$2.76 ฿92.2
365.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.01 $18.01
$9.11 ฿304
97.69%
Apples (1kg)
$5.47 $5.47
$2.39 ฿80.0
128.87%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 $1.55
$1.03 ฿34.26
50.49%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.14 $5.14
$1.63 ฿54.4
215.34%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.28 $5.28
$1.50 ฿50.0
252.00%
Potato (1kg)
$2.87 $2.87
$1.29 ฿43.13
122.48%
Onion (1kg)
$3.07 $3.07
$1.11 ฿37.03
176.58%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.51 $2.51
$0.72 ฿24.08
248.61%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.47 $2.47
$0.53 ฿17.59
366.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.64 $11.64
$4.31 ฿144
170.07%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.82 $14.82
$17.95 ฿600
-17.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.40 $2.40
$1.58 ฿52.9
51.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26 $3.26
$2.84 ฿95.0
14.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Camden, NJ
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.07 $2.07
$0.86 ฿28.86
140.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$53.3 ฿1,780
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.72 $2.72
$1.21 ฿40.29
124.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.60 $1.60
$0.57 ฿18.99
180.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.18 $24.18
$2.35 ฿78.6
928.94%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 $1.16
$1.44 ฿47.96
-19.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.3K $31.3K
$20.7K ฿692.8K
50.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$26.8K ฿895.7K
-1.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Camden, NJ
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$219 $219
$62.3 ฿2,083
251.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$61.7 $61.7
$12.11 ฿405
409.66%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.7 $61.7
$19.94 ฿666
209.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Camden, NJ
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.94 $38.94
$37.07 ฿1,239
5.04%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.78 ฿126
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.52 $15.52
$6.50 ฿217
138.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Camden, NJ
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,186 $2,186
$793 ฿26.5K
175.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$34.4K $34.4K
$14.8K ฿494.9K
132.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Camden, NJ
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.59 $48.59
$53.7 ฿1,796
-9.58%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.56 $47.56
$24.62 ฿823
93.18%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 $102
$90.9 ฿3,036
11.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 $120
$71.1 ฿2,378
69.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Camden, NJ
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,382 $1,382
$455 ฿15.2K
203.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,228 $1,228
$298 ฿9,954
312.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$908 ฿30.4K
210.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,180 $2,180
$554 ฿18.5K
293.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,470 $2,470
$1,931 ฿64.5K
27.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,498 $2,498
$1,445 ฿48.3K
72.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Camden, NJ
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,216 $3,216
$591 ฿19.7K
444.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.62
5.57
18.85%

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

Last update for Camden, NJ: October 18, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Camden, NJ
$1.2K
Chiang Mai
$298 75.7% $930
Groceries & Markets
Camden, NJ
$440
Chiang Mai
$235 46.5% $204
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Camden, NJ
$343
Chiang Mai
$94 72.4% $248
Eating Out
Camden, NJ
$326
Chiang Mai
$79 75.9% $248
Clothing & Footwear
Camden, NJ
$143
Chiang Mai
$108 24.4% $35
Sport & Entertainment
Camden, NJ
$70
Chiang Mai
$50 28.5% $20
Getting Around
Camden, NJ
$19 *
Chiang Mai
$61 220% $42

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,382 in Camden, NJ and $455 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Camden, NJ pays 444% 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: $79.0 in Camden, NJ vs $20.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $440 vs $235 per month, with Chiang Mai cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Camden, NJ
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
22:15 10:15 PM
09:15 9:15 AM
11 h ahead of Camden, NJ
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
77,344
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 22, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 22, 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
  • Camden, NJ Chiang Mai 13,460 km ≈ 17 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Camden, NJ
  • 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
Camden, NJ vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Camden, NJ and in Chiang Mai?
Camden, NJ and Chiang Mai differ by about 178% in total monthly costs ($2,569 vs $925 including rent). Chiang Mai is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Camden, NJ or Chiang Mai?
Average pay runs 444% 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Camden, NJ and in Chiang Mai?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,382 in Camden, NJ versus $455 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 87% higher in Camden, NJ. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Camden, NJ or Chiang Mai?
All in, you'll spend $2,569 per month in Camden, NJ versus $925 in Chiang Mai – a 178% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $925 in Chiang Mai versus $2,569 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.
How does quality of life compare between Camden, NJ and Chiang Mai?
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.
Is Camden, NJ or Chiang Mai safer for residents?
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.
Where should expats move: Camden, NJ or Chiang Mai?
Expats usually find Chiang Mai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 178% less than in Camden, NJ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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