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: $2,860 in Camden, NJ versus $866 in Chiang Mai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,208 in Camden, NJ versus $1,351 in Chiang Mai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,557 in Camden, NJ versus $1,835 in Chiang Mai.

Living in Camden, NJ is roughly 230% more expensive than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Camden, NJ is 113% above, Chiang Mai is 35% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.19 $20.19

$1.94 ฿63.8

940.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.6 $88.6

$18.64 ฿611

375.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.10 $12.10

$7.82 ฿256

54.73%

Cappuccino

$5.03 $5.03

$1.95 ฿64.1

157.95%

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

$2.66 $2.66

$0.85 ฿27.90

212.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 $1.95

$0.35 ฿11.64

457.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.07 $6.07

$2.13 ฿69.9

184.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.15 $7.15

$3.73 ฿122

91.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.41 $1.41

$1.71 ฿56.2

-17.54%

White Bread (500g)

$4.24 $4.24

$1.63 ฿53.4

160.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.19 $8.19

$1.14 ฿37.32

618.42%

Eggs

$4.45 $4.45

$1.93 ฿63.4

130.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.09 $15.09

$16.21 ฿532

-6.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.39 $16.39

$3.12 ฿102

425.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.29 $20.29

$10.90 ฿357

86.15%

Apples (1kg)

$6.09 $6.09

$2.75 ฿90.4

121.45%

Banana (1kg)

$2.14 $2.14

$1.21 ฿39.70

76.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.85 $5.85

$1.62 ฿53.2

261.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$1.59 ฿52.1

225.16%

Potato (1kg)

$3.88 $3.88

$1.40 ฿45.91

177.14%

Onion (1kg)

$2.91 $2.91

$1.17 ฿38.34

148.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.09 $3.09

$0.66 ฿21.70

368.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.44 $2.44

$0.53 ฿17.30

360.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.90 $12.90

$4.69 ฿154

175.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.62 $19.62

$18.66 ฿612

5.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.80 ฿59.0

8.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.28 $4.28

$3.23 ฿106

32.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.24 $2.24

$0.90 ฿29.39

148.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$59.6 $59.6

$19.21 ฿630

210.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.99 $2.99

$1.41 ฿46.13

112.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 $1.53

$1.29 ฿42.31

18.60%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.15 $22.15

$7.84 ฿257

182.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.27 ฿41.77

-23.62%

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

$30.3K $30.3K

$21.3K ฿698.1K

42.23%

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

$25.8K $25.8K

$22.2K ฿728.8K

16.30%

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

$270 $270

$69.1 ฿2,266

290.27%

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

$59.2 $59.2

$14.08 ฿462

320.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$77.1 $77.1

$18.00 ฿591

328.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.45 $43.45

$41.06 ฿1,347

5.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿228

Cinema Ticket

$14.74 $14.74

$5.92 ฿194

148.99%

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

$2,046 $2,046

$299 ฿9,811

584.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.9K $23.9K

$15.0K ฿490.6K

59.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 $56.7

$54.7 ฿1,795

3.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.37 $42.37

$26.77 ฿878

58.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.8 $95.8

$85.0 ฿2,788

12.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$141 $141

$70.6 ฿2,316

99.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,622 $1,622

$428 ฿14.0K

278.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,347 $1,347

$237 ฿7,787

467.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,602 $2,602

$801 ฿26.3K

224.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,238 $2,238

$515 ฿16.9K

334.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,525 $2,525

$1,975 ฿64.8K

27.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$1,475 ฿48.4K

68.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,775 $4,775

$617 ฿20.3K

673.41%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,622 in Camden, NJ and $428 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Camden, NJ pays 673% 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: $89.0 in Camden, NJ vs $19.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $504 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

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

Camden, NJ and Chiang Mai differ by about 230% in total monthly costs ($2,860 vs $866 including rent). Chiang Mai is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Camden, NJ pays 673% 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: $1,622 in Camden, NJ versus $428 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 210% less than in Camden, NJ. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $2,046 in Camden, NJ versus $299 in Chiang Mai. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $866 in Chiang Mai versus $2,860 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 230% less than in Camden, NJ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.